A Yellow Card system is being used to steer young people in East Cheshire away from disorder and crime. The Yellow Cards – known officially as Young Person Notification forms - are carried by Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Cheshire East Council Community Wardens.
When they seize alcohol from groups of under age drinkers or disperse young people who are causing a nuisance, the basic details of the young people involved; name, age, address and school, are taken down on the yellow cards. On the back of the card the officers enter a brief summary of what the young person has been doing.
The completed cards are then passed to the Cheshire East Anti Social Behaviour Unit which sends a “We think you ought to know” letter to parents. It suggests they need to keep an eye on what their son or daughter is doing outside school hours.
If the same name comes up on a second occasion the parents are sent a “Final” letter. After that, a Police Officer will visit the family or the case will go to a multi-agency panel to decide on a plan of action.
The yellow cards were introduced in October as a pilot scheme to see if they would speed up the process. Since their introduction 300 letters have been sent out and the system will be evaluated in January.
Councillor Brian Silvester, Portfolio Holder for safer and Stronger Communities on Cheshire East Council said, “We are giving top priority to tackling anti social behaviour across Cheshire East. This action can potentially play a major part in that, especially as it serves as an early warning to young people who are not yet caught up in serious trouble. The early indications are that it will be successful.”
Laura Woodrow, the Team Leader on Anti –Social Behaviour for Cheshire East said, “Yellow Cards are all about early intervention. We aim to prevent young people drifting into anti social behaviour.”
She added, “The response from the parents is good. Many of them have no idea their son or daughter is drinking in the street or is hanging out with people who are causing problems. When they find out, most of them are prepared to do something about the situation."
Picture above: Constable Jessica Kusiar shows a yellow card. With Coun. Brian Silvester and the Team Leader on Anti Social Behaviour in Cheshire East, Laura Woodrow.
