Police Discrimination/ Harrassment

[ionnsaigh]

Malky you don't have to live in the town to determine the difference between right and wrong. If you were to witness a murder in the town - the crown prosecution service - wouldn't dismiss your evidence - as being in any way invalid - based on the irrelevant issue of your residence or not.
Being discourteous and being discriminatory - are two negative aspects of police activity - however the latter has far more dangerous implications - to the group of young people involved - than the lack of common courtesy to an old person in the street. I would be Interested in discovering - why you have reached the conclusion - that those young people - where not discriminated or harassed - by Strathclyde Police Force Campbeltown on Good Friday night.

Mick

[Ileach B]

You not think the kids are making a nuisance to shopkeepers by standing outside their shops, putting customers off going in? I know I feel intimidated going in Vic Wine or McKellars by the hundreds of kids outside swearing infront my my young children! You just walked down the street and witnessed the police moving them, not what happened before hand. They watch them on the camera that is attached about the chemists.

The Youth Cafe is a great idea, when I was younger there was one down beside the cinema. Hopefully it will get up and running and used properly and not abused!

[kintyre 84]

As a parent of 2 young teens, both out on Friday evening, I have sympathies for both the youths and the police. The kids want to go out and mix with their friends but where do they go? I am really not happy about them hanging about the streets but what choice do they have? I hate seeing the huge crowds of them outside the shops and do feel intimidated and can appreciate the reasons the police are moving them on.

Underage alcohol consumption seems to be rife at the moment and younger and younger kids are falling foul of caving under peer pressure and the ultimate badge of being taken to get their stomachs pumped at hospital.

A youth cafe is a great idea and I have considered how it would work many times. As a private business idea it would be difficult to be successful and as a voluntary organisation it would be an imense amount of work which would require many willing volunteers. I would imagine, perhaps wrongly ,that many parents would use it like they do many local organisations, as a drop off and avoid responsibilities service.

The police could become involved in some sort of youth project, as was done in my own home town, but in my own experience of the police lately through organising events locally, they have become obsessed with legislation and a "belt and braces" attitude towards health and issues affecting long running successful traditions. (Another story for another day).... They could perhaps revert to old fashioned policing.

I know that people go on about the youths bleating about having nothing to do, but in this ever increasing society of computerised communication, social interaction is very important and there is nowhere available for this. Somewhere should be made available in Campbeltown... the sooner the better.

[ionnsaigh]

I feel it important to keep events in perspective - that is - the marked difference in police approach - to the youths on Friday night - and the adults on Sunday morning. Where would the greatest threat to peace lie - 9PM on a Friday evening or 1-30AM on a Sunday morning. Most of the young appeared sober and orderly. Most of the adults appeared drunk and noisy. Yet the police appear to act in a heavy handed manner - to the group - who met within a recognizable and totally acceptable time. Groups are most likely to breach the peace - of a Sunday morning - than a Friday night. Not that I think that - the adult group - where breaching the peace - on the contrary - such gatherings are part of the social fabric of the town. As far as funding for a youth cafe is concerned - Tesco the Coop and Vicky Wines all enjoy significant profits from alcohol sales. Some of this alcohol is clearly finding it's way to the young - and vulnerable members of the community. The pub owners should also contribute - some of the profit towards their future customers. The Education Authority would be better employed - advising teenagers - than the police. The cafe should be run by a committee of young people - by the people and for the people

[mac10]

Totally agree, its the teenagers that get picked on in this town and the ones that are doing the damage get left alone!

[westport321]

Youth Cafe, Great Idea.... go take a look at the one on Islay in that little cafe ( cant remember its name) in Port Ellen great place for kids, nice people running it too.

[ionnsaigh]

Totally agree, its the teenagers that get picked on in this town and the ones that are doing the damage get left alone!

Modern technology is a wonderful thing. I would imagine that most of the teenagers in the town have phones with a camera.
Nothing wrong in filming the police in the course of their duty.

Youth Cafe, Great Idea.... go take a look at the one on Islay in that little cafe ( cant remember its name) in Port Ellen great place for kids, nice people running it too.

Both my wife and I spent a few days in Islay last year. On a visit to Port Ellen, the hotel had no food or heavy beer at lunchtime.
We found ourselves in the cafe run by young people. I was under the impression that the cafe was run by young people - although not exclusively for young people. Tell you what though, the service and the food was first class. A big thank you to all concerned at the cafe. Next time we are over we will certainly pay a visit.