National Children's Bureau:
What are the true costs of the Respect agenda?

Since its inception, the Respect agenda has caused controversy. While it rightly recognises the need to improve social cohesion, all too often the debate has focused disproportionately on the behaviour of young people, and there were fears that the long-anticipated Respect Action Plan would prompt yet another bout of youth-bashing.

In the event, the plan, launched on 10 January, proved unexpectedly positive, taking some of its tone as well as a great deal of its content from the Youth Matters green paper. It includes the explicit acknowledgement that "tackling disrespect is not a 'youth issue' any more than anti-social behaviour is", as well as a welcome emphasis on supporting vulnerable families. On some specifics, too, the plan is encouraging. For example, proposals for anti-social behaviour orders given to young people to be reviewed after one year instead of two is an improvement.

Nevertheless, some of the proposals sound warning bells, especially in areas where breaching civil orders can swiftly lead to criminalisation. Will extending parenting orders help support families or will it alienate them? The government is currently piloting penalty notices for disorder for under-16s. Will this pilot be rigorously evaluated before any national rollout? And what effect will the increase of existing penalty fines for over-16s to £100 have on families where this may be a high percentage of their weekly income?

There must also be concern about headline-grabbing proposals to dock housing benefit or evict anti-social families, including those who own their own property, for a set period. While the need for appropriate safeguards is acknowledged, what impact will these measures have on children whose lives may already be difficult and chaotic. In particular, how will this action support their education?

And then there is the issue of resources. In his foreword Tony Blair may warn us against cynicism, but we all know that whatever the rhetoric, support and prevention comes at a price.

Barbara Hearn, director of policy and innovation, NCB 18 January 2006

http://www.childrennow.co.uk/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=details&UID=0e4b85ed-d8da-4bb0-a6bd-695d29df0a80

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