Children, 9, Recruited By Council To Report Antisocial Behaviour

A local authority is aiming to clean up the streets by enlisting primary-school children to join its antisocial behaviour investigators.

Perth and Kinross Council plans to give children as young as nine a uniform and encourage them to report antisocial behaviour. The initial scheme will last for six weeks.

A council spokesman said the children would be given notebooks and encouraged to take down and report details of any antisocial behaviour they observe.

“After the initial six-week block, the children are called upon to help on projects with the Community Wardens, such as litter picks or graffiti-spotting.

“They are also encouraged, using their notebooks, to continue reporting to the Community Wardens anything they observe in the community that they feel requires attention.

“It is an innovative new scheme that will help teach children to take real pride in their neighbourhood,” the spokesman said yesterday.

“It will allow youngsters to take part in environmental activities and projects. They will also take part in educational visits and learn about good citizenship.

“The project will see Junior Wardens provided with their own uniform, including a high-visibility waistcoat and a baseball cap, to wear when they are out on the streets.”

The programme has been developed with the help of NHS Tayside, Tayside Police and Tayside Fire and Rescue Service.

The council’s community safety convener, Willie Robertson, said: “This is an extremely innovative programme that will help young people develop their citizenship skills and promote community pride throughout their lives.

“Children will be encouraged to consider the consequences of their actions, which will contribute towards a long-term aim of reducing or eliminating their future involvement in crime and anti- social behaviour.

“By raising their awareness of the environmental issues which surround them, the children will be empowered to play a vital role in improving their neighbourhood.

“Getting youngsters involved with the Community Wardens will help break down the communication gap between themselves and older people.

“We all want safe, secure and welcoming communities and this scheme will definitely help us to achieve that aim.”

Adult Community wardens have been patrolling the streets of Letham and Hillyland since 2004 and complaints about antisocial youths have fallen by 46 per cent.