Child Curfew Schemes

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/cdact/curfews.htm

These were introduced by s14 of the Crime & Disorder Act 1998. The scheme allows the local authority (after confirmation by the Secretary of State) to ban children under 10 from being in a particular public place during specified hours (between 9pm and 6am) otherwise than under the control of a parent or responsible adult.

Local Child Curfew Schemes have a dual purpose. They are designed to protect the interests of residents in certain areas where children congregate and engage in anti-social or criminal type behaviour. This would include involvement in racially motivated crime and racist anti-social behaviour. They are also aimed at protecting children and ensuring that they are at home under adult supervision at night. Groups of unattended children out late at night could be at risk from older peers encouraging them into offending behaviour. The steps that local authorities have to take and the conditions that apply are set out at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/cdact/curfews.htm)

Following consultations, the Government has announced its intention to legislate to increase the age range so that the Scheme applies to children aged up to 15.

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