Hold your heads up, yobs
When the youth are seriously labeled “antisocial” by adults, they think of themselves as just naughty kids.
Some people are intimidated by yobs in Cardiff, especially when walking through two particular streets at night, one is St Mary Street sometimes known as an “animal farm”, another is Clifton Street was at one time described as a “living hell” by residents nearby. With loud music, St Mary Street is always thronged with glittering party animals after dark on Saturday. They are getting drunk, screaming, vomiting at pavements and laughing at the fear in the faces of passerby. Policemen and paramedics are the busiest people in the high street during big festivals like Christmas. Clifton Street has been more chaotic until recently, but is now being reborn, as the Tredegar House pub, the source of problems, was closed in March due to a stabbing and drug dealing.
Despite the great improvement in tackling antisocial behaviour since 2004 in the city, this issue was still thought to be the top priority for the police from a survey carried out by South Wales Police Authority in October. “I don’t like teenagers at all. I want to see more policemen in the street.” A man responding to the survey in Cardiff Bay confessed, “They even think it’s cool to have an ASBO.”
Are yobs really that bad? One thing can be proved by their attitude towards ASBOs is that they are playing games with society. Hiding under hoodies and walking in the dark, they enjoy trying to be something special in the world and refuse to become truly a part of society. Back to St Mary Street, “Yobs here would do everything just for fun,” a barman from the pub Liquid said, “It seems they have never been told by others how to act well or even protect themselves. They break rules just like kids break toys. But except behaving rudely, most of them are harmless.”
Does that mean the youth are becoming creatures with the appearances of adults and the minds of children? According to its report, the number of children living with a single parent increased by 17% last year in Britain, meanwhile, they spend less quality time with family members. This means there is an “increasing disconnect” between children and adults so that young people have to learn how to behave from each other, said Nick Pearce, director of the IPPR.
Maybe adults should question their own attitudes first before admitting disappointment about next generation. Early this month, Conservative leader David Cameron called for a better understanding of yobs at the annual Youth Justice Convention in Cardiff International Arena. “We have to show a lot more love.” He said.
But it is not easy to make parents change their children’s behaviour by love in the short term. Right now South Wales Police have to concentrate on special measures for dealing with probable antisocial problems for the upcoming party season. It may include extending road closures along St Mary Street, setting up “field hospitals” and adding a police station in the city centre. “Hopefully young guys can hold their heads up, not go too far this Christmas.” said Mr Moger, an officer from [i]A.M.E.C team. (516 words)
[i] AMEC = lcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign.
Topic
What:
warning of young people’s antisocial behaviour at Christmas in Cardiff.
Why:
Cardiff has been one of the antisocial behaviour action areas since 2004;
Cameron just addressed Youth Justice Convention in Cardiff in Nov 3 to tackle this problem;
Christmas would be a peak time of antisocial behaviour according to past few years.
How:
Do interviews with cardiff citizens who complained on BBC website and local Antisocial Behaviour Co-ordinator.
