Youth
Safety
SNAP, ADIBOP & Bangladeshi Youth League
SNAP worked with ADIBOP and 9 young
males aged 12 - 14 years who attend the Bangladeshi Youth League (BYL).
The members of BYL became aware that the police and courts could charge
individuals at the age of 10 years as criminals. SNAP asked BYL what
did they consider to be the causes affecting youth safety? Members
of the BYL identified the following factors:baseball bats, knives,
guns, joy riding, taking without consent and drugs as the main causes
affecting youth safety. Individuals within the group also identified
bullying as a factor. The group was also made aware that bullying
is a crime. The group was split into three smaller groups and were
encouraged to enact victims and perpetrators of street violence. To
counter the role-played violence, and to make them more aware of the
risks of street violence, the group was shown how to put someone in
the recovery position and told that in the event of an accident or
attack someone should call an ambulance and stay with the person until
the ambulance arrives.
Wed 07th Jan,2009
Did you know you can become a criminal
at 10 years of age and that the following offences maybe punishable
with life imprisonment:
- Attempted Murder.
- Murder.
- Manslaughter
- Criminal damage endangering life.
- Torture.
- Possession of firearms with the
intent to endanger life or damage property.
- Use of firearms to resist arrest.
- Carrying firearm or imitation firearm
with intention to commit a chargeable offence or to resist arrest.
- Wounding with intent to do grievous
bodily harm.
TOUGH PENALTIES
>The penalty for illegally possessing
a gun or ammunition is up to 10 years in prison.
>Soon anyone in possession of a banned
firearm will get at least 5 years in prison.
>it will be an offence to posses an
imitation firearm or air gun in a public place (without legal authority
or reasonable excuse.)
A group of SNAP participants became
aware that 10 year olds can be charged as criminals and that the following
offences may be punishable with life imprisonment: Murder and attempted
murder, manslaughter, criminal damage endangering life, torture, possession
of firearms with the intent to damage property, use of firearm or
imitation firearm with intention to commit a chargeable offence and
wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
A male also read out information about
gun crime and the group set about creating and role-playing scenes
for two anti gun posters.....
Black
Market (left) and What If?
Previous images where exhibited alongside
images created for the youth safety campaign at the launch which was
well attended by Luton Borough Council workers, councilors, local
organisations, parents and young people.
SNAP participants supported their own
project by listening to music played by a SNAP participant in the
gallery. Also a SNAP participant/Media student had her music dubbed
over the Youth Safety video in which some participants took part
in interviews.

FREE access
to community arts activities
for young people.