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18th March 2008

Curfew Overhauls for York City, North York and West York

A proposal has been unveiled to introduce a joint curfew in three municipalities. The proposed curfew is to keep children and teenagers off the street during school hours and late a night.

The three municipalities, York City, West York and North York are considering whether to join forces to enforce an 11pm curfew.

York City currently on the 12pm curfew, proposes to establish the same 11pm curfew that runs in West and North York.

The proposed night and day restrictions in York City assert that school-age children will not be allowed in public places during school hours.

Also to be discussed is the possibility of businesses being restricted from allowing minors to stay on their premises after the curfew.

District judges will be allowed to place parents and children on a diversionary program to try and tackle truancy issues. The program will be in place of fines and custodial sentences.

Plans for the curfew overhaul has been a matter of discussion for a long time. A councillor purports that the new bill can do a lot more to curb anti social behaviour and crime being committed by minors.

It is reported that many teenagers are on the streets after midnight, when they should be at home with their parents.

In West York the current curfew was difficult to enforce as police were letting first offenders of with a warning. However the police force had no way of recording those who had been let off with a warning. Thus making it difficult to implement any punishments to those who are re-offending.

The new proposal introduces the plan for a central curfew centre that supports all boroughs. This will simplify procedures and keep an up-to-date record of repeat offenders

The centre will also help put the police officers back on the street instead of waiting around for the offenders to be processed.

SOURCE:

York Disptach