The Purpose of the “Northbridge Curfew” & the Benefits and Criticism of It

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1. Introduction
This report is on the subject of the “Northbridge Curfew” policy which was implemented in Western Australia, under the Labor Government in 2003. The report will discuss a number of points, such as, what the curfew is, why it was created, and both the positive and negative reactions from the public after the curfew was put in to action. The report will also include a recommendation as to whether or not the Curfew should be extended to include areas outside of the Northbridge area.

2. What is the Curfew?
The “Northbridge Curfew” or otherwise known as “The Young People in Northbridge Policy” is a curfew that was created under the circumstances for the number of unsupervised children in Northbridge - one of Perth’s main entertainment districts - after dark.
2.1. Where does it apply to?
The “Young People in Northbridge Policy” is applied in the Northbridge district. From the Office of Crime Prevention’s 2003 report, this area “is defined as that area bounded by Roe Street to the south; Beaufort Street to the east; Newcastle Street to the north; the Mitchell Freeway to the west; and, William Street extending to Brisbane Street.”

Source: Look At WA website (http://www.lookatwa.com.au/Zones/northbridgemap.html)

2.2. Who it applies to?
The policy was aimed mainly to apply to the youths of Western Australia, specifically those who frequently loitered in the Perth/Northbridge area. The policy prohibits children 12 or under to be in the area after sunset, and children between the ages of 13 to 15 after 10pm – unless under the care of a sober or responsible guardian. The policy is something that has also been directed to those all less than 18 years of age, who engage in what is said to be anti-social beha...

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...n to have lowered the rate of young people in the Northbridge area, from the help of both the Police and groups in the Northbridge community, it is seen to be something of a discriminative “re-packaged policy” towards the Indigenous youth.
In regards to recommending if the policy should be extended to areas outside of Northbridge, I believe that unless there is a significant amount of research placed on the specific areas which are believed to need a curfew, then yes, it should be extended. Despite this though, from the research above, showing that there was a drop in the amount of people apprehended, it was set out on a specific racial group, from low socio-economic areas, and not areas in which middle class people reside, as it is usually believed that people from low socio-economic background are more commonly at a higher risk of crime than that of middle class.

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