Don’t gang up on youth

THE City of Casey needs to take enormous care when it considers placing nighttime curfews on any age group.
One of the most treasured things in our democratic way of life is our freedom to come and go as we please.
People of all ages should remain free to do that provided they do not interfere with the rights of others to do the same or cause distress to others, which, of course, impinges on their freedom.
Cranbourne Uniting Church minister, the Reverend Paul Creasey, was reported as saying that gangs were a growing issue, but I recall 50 years ago in my youth that gangs from time to time were a problem.
Sometimes a serious problem, and I distinctly recall being on the rough end of one Frankston mob — so what’s new?
We also had the ‘Bodgies’ and the ‘Widgies’ who would have made Mr Creasey’s hair curl.
Allowing for the massive increase in the numbers of young people in this region, we should be thankful that gangs and violence in ‘youth culture’ as the reverend says have not grown with the numbers.
Generally the Casey council has kept a lid on it, probably because of the enormous amount of work the civic centre contributes to youth.
Support for young people has been a priority, but there is always a small element that will cause trouble no matter what the council does.
That is a problem for the police, not the council.
The City of Casey has spent many millions of dollars on the provision of sports facilities and activities for young people.
Four Oaks Ward councillor Paul Richardson said in a press release that there was need for a youth curfew after 8pm.
“Young children should be home with parents after 5pm,” he said.
Curfews will not stop the real troublemakers and when does the term ‘youth’ end; when is a person no longer a youth?
What about the gangs of youth who go to cricket practice and to choir practice, to church meetings, the young people who work at stores such as McDonald’s?
Do they have to be home by 8pm?
Would a 20yearold person driving home from work be subject to this 8pm curfew?
What a load of rot.