Islington Tribune - News: No-go zones mixed message?

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Islington Tribune - by MARK BLUNDEN
Published: 24 August 2007

Cllr Marisha Ray

No-go zones mixed message?

A SENIOR Liberal Democrat councillor appears to be sending out mixed messages over Town Hall measures to curb unruly youths.
Opposition Labour politicians are now demanding community safety chef Marisha Ray clarifies the council’s position after it set up of Islington’s biggest-ever dispersal zone two weeks ago.
Under new powers, police can move on groups gathering in Tollington, Finsbury Park and Highbury West wards.
In a council press release about the zone on August 10, Councillor Ray said: “... there’s no need for anyone to hang around the streets or complain of boredom ... We have arranged lots of activities all over Islington that young people of all age groups can take part in this summer like the summer university courses or activities at the borough’s youth clubs and parks ... We won’t tolerate crime and anti-social behaviour in Islington.”
But only a week later, in an Islington newspaper, she wrote: “Many young people don’t want to spend all their time outside of school in organised activities, but want to spend some of their summer holiday with their friends doing what they want, when they want.
“It is not a crime for young people to want to enjoy our parks and spend time with their friends and they shouldn’t be made to feel like it is.”
Cllr Ray’s opposite number in the Labour party, Lisa Spall, said the community safety chief was “obviously deeply confused about council policy”.
But Cllr Ray last night (Thursday) remained unclear about her strategy for curbing the behaviour of unruly youths.
She said: “The onus is also on them to behave as would be expected of any member of the community, always improving and never degrading the area we all live in. Parents, families and carers also have an important role to play in showing young people how they can enjoy themselves and be considerate of others.”

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