Youths causing trouble sign 'behaviour contracts'

Police say youths who were drinking, refusing to leave stores and intimidating people have signed up to voluntary written agreements to curb their behaviour.

The contracts, which relate to incidents in Lincoln city centre, are designed to clamp down on anti-social behaviour without criminalising children.

Lincolnshire Police said it had issued 27 "acceptable behaviour contracts" (ABCs), some to children as young as 12.

PC Molisa McGinnis said: "There may be some who say that a piece of paper won't solve anything, but this is a really important tool in tackling anti-social behaviour, because it gives us an evidence base to intervene swiftly with other measures if things don't change."

Anti-social behaviour "escalated" last summer, with a rise in reports and "increased concerns" from businesses and residents, PC McGinnis said.

Reports included "youths threatening customers, refusing to leave stores" and "riding e-scooters and bikes" on footpaths.

Drinking in the city centre, particularly at weekends, was also an issue.

"We knew that we needed to do something, and engaging these young people in a way that would help them understand what was and wasn't OK was the way to go," PC McGinnis added.

Police and city council officials issued 190 advice letters and spoke to parents and guardians. A further 41 warning letters followed.

ABCs were issued in cases where the advice and warning letters had failed "to hit home", PC McGinnis said.

Individuals who sign the written agreements commit to abiding by certain terms.

However, a number of people in Lincoln told BBC Look North they were sceptical about the effectiveness of the scheme.

"I just don't think it will work," one man said. "The parents can't control the kids as it is now."

Others called for more police patrols in the city centre.

Insp Jonathan Birkin said he believed the scheme was having an impact.

"Ultimately. if they refuse, or commit a criminal offence, we would deal with that [appropriately]," he added.

The contracts last for a period of six months, but can be extended if they are breached.

Ben Jackson, from the council's public protection team, described ABCs as an effective tool in setting expectations for a young person.

"The objective is to stop the anti-social behaviour or criminality whilst negating the need to criminalise youths," he said.

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