Jack will assign you a role. You will have five minutes to discuss your roles in groups.
Local resident
You live in an area where there has been some antisocial behaviour.
Think about:
- feeling safe when you are out at night
- groups of teenagers in public places
- police patrols and CCTV
- safety on buses and public transport
- what the council could do in your neighbourhood
Questions
- When and where do you feel least safe?
- What would make you feel safer?
- Would more CCTV or police patrols help?
- What should happen when someone behaves antisocially?
- What could help prevent the problem?
Police officer
You work for Police Scotland in Edinburgh.
Think about:
- preventing crime and antisocial behaviour
- having enough police officers
- CCTV and other technology
- working with young people and the community
- what the police can realistically do
Questions
- Which problems should the police focus on?
- Would more police patrols make a difference?
- How useful is CCTV?
- Should the police have more powers?
- How can you prevent problems before they happen?
Parent of a teenager
You want Edinburgh to be safe, but you don’t want all teenagers to be treated as criminals.
Think about:
- why some young people behave antisocially
- places and activities for teenagers
- how police treat young people
- punishment for serious behaviour
- the responsibilities of parents
Questions
- Why do some teenagers cause problems?
- Do young people have enough places to go?
- When should teenagers be punished?
- Would tougher punishments solve the problem?
- What could parents, schools and the council do?
Young person
You are a teenager living in Edinburgh. You want to feel safe too, but you don’t want to be treated with suspicion because of your age.
Think about:
- how adults and police treat teenagers
- places where young people can meet
- CCTV and being watched
- crime and antisocial behaviour by other young people
- what would make Edinburgh better for teenagers
Questions
- Do adults sometimes judge teenagers unfairly?
- Where can young people meet their friends?
- How would you feel about more CCTV and police patrols?
- What should happen to young people who cause serious problems?
- What would help stop antisocial behaviour?
Role play
You are at a community meeting about safety in Edinburgh. Discuss the ideas from Part B. Can you agree on a three-point plan to make Edinburgh safer?
At the end, complete:
Our Edinburgh Safety Plan
- __________ should be __________.
- __________ should be __________.
- __________ should be __________.