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Make child play safer, say Tories Make child play safer, say Tories
(about 2 hours later)
Children should be allowed to be play outdoors more, with park rangers being employed to ensure greater safety in playgrounds, the Conservatives say.Children should be allowed to be play outdoors more, with park rangers being employed to ensure greater safety in playgrounds, the Conservatives say.
The party has launched a Childhood Review, setting out plans to make parks and streets more secure from bullying, crime and other dangers.The party has launched a Childhood Review, setting out plans to make parks and streets more secure from bullying, crime and other dangers.
It is urging councils not to put up "no ball games" signs or treat children playing outdoors as a nuisance.It is urging councils not to put up "no ball games" signs or treat children playing outdoors as a nuisance.
Unicef has ranked the UK the least child-friendly of 21 rich nations.Unicef has ranked the UK the least child-friendly of 21 rich nations.
'Understandable reaction''Understandable reaction'
Conservative leader David Cameron said: "Parents have lost confidence that their children will be safe on the streets and in our public play areas. This is not some irrational fear to be educated out of them.Conservative leader David Cameron said: "Parents have lost confidence that their children will be safe on the streets and in our public play areas. This is not some irrational fear to be educated out of them.
Britain is the least family-friendly country in Europe. We want to make it the most family-friendly David Willetts, Conservatives Creating a good society for children to grow up in is one of the greatest tests of any nation's character David Cameron, Conservatives class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7226514.stm">Full text: Cameron speech
"It is an understandable reaction to everything that goes on - from more traffic to the way gangs can take over children's playgrounds.""It is an understandable reaction to everything that goes on - from more traffic to the way gangs can take over children's playgrounds."
He added: "Adults' natural authority, good sense and positive instincts have been dangerously undermined.He added: "Adults' natural authority, good sense and positive instincts have been dangerously undermined.
"So adults no longer feel any right, or any responsibility, to constrain children's behaviour if they are not their own. This is a disaster for our society, and we have to reverse it.""So adults no longer feel any right, or any responsibility, to constrain children's behaviour if they are not their own. This is a disaster for our society, and we have to reverse it."
The Conservative review's proposals include:The Conservative review's proposals include:
    • Increased adult supervision of public spaces, such as park rangers to ensure playgrounds are kept clean of syringes and broken glass and do not become a gathering place for gangs
    • Increased adult supervision of public spaces, such as park rangers to ensure playgrounds are kept clean of syringes and broken glass and do not become a gathering place for gangs
    • Changes to the British Crime Survey, so that it measures crimes against children, which are currently excluded
    • Changes to the British Crime Survey, so that it measures crimes against children, which are currently excluded
    • "Walking buses" to take groups of children to and from school
    • "Walking buses" to take groups of children to and from school
    • More visible policing on the streets, by cutting back on the bureaucracy which keeps officers behind a desk;
    • More visible policing on the streets, by cutting back on the bureaucracy which keeps officers behind a desk;
    • Councils and police to take a sensitive approach to children playing outside, to create "safer neighbourhoods, not neighbourhoods without children".
    • Councils and police to take a sensitive approach to children playing outside, to create "safer neighbourhoods, not neighbourhoods without children".
    • Action on traffic to make streets safer for children.
    • Action on traffic to make streets safer for children.
      • The review's author, shadow universities and skills secretary David Willetts, said the outdoors seemed "hostile" to children and parents because of fears over crime, bullying and traffic.The review's author, shadow universities and skills secretary David Willetts, said the outdoors seemed "hostile" to children and parents because of fears over crime, bullying and traffic.
      This forced young people into a "flat world of screen-based activities, or they end up being driven around to supervised play".This forced young people into a "flat world of screen-based activities, or they end up being driven around to supervised play".
      'Trying harder''Trying harder'
      Mr Willetts cited research suggesting a 42% increase since 1996 in numbers of people who see groups of teenagers hanging around outside as a big problem.Mr Willetts cited research suggesting a 42% increase since 1996 in numbers of people who see groups of teenagers hanging around outside as a big problem.
      He said this attitude led to incidents such as police being called out last year to deal with children as young as five who had drawn a hopscotch grid on the street.He said this attitude led to incidents such as police being called out last year to deal with children as young as five who had drawn a hopscotch grid on the street.
      Mr Willetts said: "Britain is the least family-friendly country in Europe. We want to make it the most family-friendly.Mr Willetts said: "Britain is the least family-friendly country in Europe. We want to make it the most family-friendly.
      "We are not blaming parents, because in general parents are spending more time with their children and trying harder with them.""We are not blaming parents, because in general parents are spending more time with their children and trying harder with them."
      But parents had "lost confidence that their children will be safe in playgrounds or on the streets".But parents had "lost confidence that their children will be safe in playgrounds or on the streets".
      Bob Reitmeier, chief executive of The Children's Society, said: "The Conservatives' proposals are a welcome addition to the ongoing debate on the state of childhood in the UK.Bob Reitmeier, chief executive of The Children's Society, said: "The Conservatives' proposals are a welcome addition to the ongoing debate on the state of childhood in the UK.
      "What is now required is a wider culture change, which tackles the current climate of fear and restores adults' trust in children and each other.""What is now required is a wider culture change, which tackles the current climate of fear and restores adults' trust in children and each other."