Responsive Letter
Miss Rochelle Balfore
123 Suasung Road
London
SE11 2EA
Editor
Culture Magazine
1128 Edis Street
London
W2 1MX
Date: 28th September 2013
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to you in response of the article ‘Bangor’s curfew will alienate its teenagers’ by Ellie Mae O’Hagan.
I want to start by saying that I thoroughly agree with Miss O’Hagan and the statements that she expressed throughout the article.
This curfew or “dispersal order” is in my opinion a bit heavy handed. Why should the whole teenage generation be categorized because of the small minority of reckless youths that need stronger discipline?
It is unfair and prejudiced that anyone under the age of 16 is not allowed to be in the city between 9pm and 6am unless they are under the effective control of a parent or responsible person over the age of 18. To be honest, it is ridiculous! What is even more ridiculous is that those found breaking it could be fined up to £2,500 or even receive a custodial sentence (I don’t know anyone under the age of 16 with that amount of money!) Ouch!
Personally, I think that ‘Loitering’ is actually quite a useful part of growing up. Teenagers hanging around are often learning important lessons about getting on with one another, I used to be very shy when growing up, but now I am bubbly, friendly and easy to get along with – this was down to ‘loitering’, would I have been punished?
In a survey taken in my area 62% of teenagers agreed that spending time with their friends has aided them in life lessons and skills… only 9% of the 1000 teenagers who were asked this question have ever been involved in a crime.
If the older residents of Bangor took the time to get to know and to include teenagers or even took the time to create a local youth club, the teenagers would be occupied and have no reason ‘waste time’, I understand that Bangor is a small city but if there is nothing for teenagers to do with their time, what option do they have other than to waste
123 Suasung Road
London
SE11 2EA
Editor
Culture Magazine
1128 Edis Street
London
W2 1MX
Date: 28th September 2013
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to you in response of the article ‘Bangor’s curfew will alienate its teenagers’ by Ellie Mae O’Hagan.
I want to start by saying that I thoroughly agree with Miss O’Hagan and the statements that she expressed throughout the article.
This curfew or “dispersal order” is in my opinion a bit heavy handed. Why should the whole teenage generation be categorized because of the small minority of reckless youths that need stronger discipline?
It is unfair and prejudiced that anyone under the age of 16 is not allowed to be in the city between 9pm and 6am unless they are under the effective control of a parent or responsible person over the age of 18. To be honest, it is ridiculous! What is even more ridiculous is that those found breaking it could be fined up to £2,500 or even receive a custodial sentence (I don’t know anyone under the age of 16 with that amount of money!) Ouch!
Personally, I think that ‘Loitering’ is actually quite a useful part of growing up. Teenagers hanging around are often learning important lessons about getting on with one another, I used to be very shy when growing up, but now I am bubbly, friendly and easy to get along with – this was down to ‘loitering’, would I have been punished?
In a survey taken in my area 62% of teenagers agreed that spending time with their friends has aided them in life lessons and skills… only 9% of the 1000 teenagers who were asked this question have ever been involved in a crime.
If the older residents of Bangor took the time to get to know and to include teenagers or even took the time to create a local youth club, the teenagers would be occupied and have no reason ‘waste time’, I understand that Bangor is a small city but if there is nothing for teenagers to do with their time, what option do they have other than to waste