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Keep it safe: Back row (l-r) Mustafa Ahmed, Mujib Miah
and Mukhtar Moalim. Front, (l-r) Jamal Miah, Joshim Ahmed
and Mohamed Nur |
Youth vote supports greater use of Asbos
Backing for bans as a way of instilling fear in teenagers
MORE anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) should be dished
out to troublemakers to keep them off the streets, according
to a poll of young people.
Of more than 100 young people who took part in a debate at Queen’s
Crescent Community Centre in Ashdown Crescent on Saturday, two
out of three supported the use of Asbos.
Since 1999, Camden Council has issued 220 Asbos, of which 197
were for adults and 23 for under-18s. In Gospel Oak, one of
the most deprived areas in the borough, 10 Asbos have been issued,
of which five were to under-18s.
But many of the young people quizzed by the New Journal after
the debate said Asbos should be extended to include alcoholics,
racists and general troublemakers.
Mohammed Nur, 22, a trainee youth worker from Gilden Crescent,
Gospel Oak, who helped organise the debate, said Asbos gave
people a warning that there are consequences if they do something
wrong. He added: “If they know there is a threat they might
get into trouble, they won’t do it. I don’t think
Asbos have gone far enough.”
Mustafa Ahmed, 21, from Parkhill Road, Belsize Park, said: “One
way to discipline kids is to make them fear. And they need to
fear the local authorities.” But Mukhtar Moalim, 18, from
Grafton Terrace, Gospel Oak, warned: “It’s not solving
the problem. It’s making them more angry and confused and
just moving the problem into another area.”
Concern was voiced about the lack of opportunities for young
people and the shortage of positive role models. Joshim Ahmen,
24, from Gilden Crescent, said: “Kids don’t have enough
to do and they don’t have enough money. Often they don’t
have a father figure in their life. A lot of people are forced
into bad behaviour because it’s not cool to be good.”
Kobir Ahmed, vice-chairman of Kentish Town Community Organisation,
which organised the debate, said: “A lot of people were
in favour of Asbos but we also pointed out the arguments against.
In many ways they are self-defeating because they become a badge
of honour for the kids. Often they deal with the problem without
looking at the cause.” |
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