From tackling the symptoms

toa global

approach

Bob Raets

Prevention officer

City Turnhout

10 FACTORS leading toSUCCESS

From tackling the symptons to…

• Kasteelplein: summer 2007

• Repeated reports of noisy disturbances, drug abuse, littering, urinating etc.

• Disturbance prevention: how can we remove the nuisance as quickly as possible?

• Focus on identity control

1

• Police: frequent controls but infrequent criminality - leads to more resentment from the youngsters as well as from the police.

• Young people: a number of socially vulnerable young people did not find any connection with the existing youth services

• Residents: – main complaints were about litter and noise during the

night. – feelings of insecurity caused by large numbers of young

people congregating in the area.

…a thourough analysis with ALL parties involved.1

• Via ‘street corner worker’ : representative for the groups of youngsters to the local prevention council

• The young people were willing to co-operate constructively on finding a solution

• They asked for a positive relationship with the police

Actively involve the target group.2

• Prevention Council : setting targets and formulating sanctions in an open dialogue

• The need to have some short term interventions agreed for the next summer of 2008

• Major importance of interventions with a long term effect

Determining targets together 3

• Installing big, sturdy, fixed dustbins

• Everyone moves to the designated non-residential side of Kasteelplein from 01 o’clock onwards

• Presence of local police : six points of contact within the police corps

Concrete tangible interventions specifically targeting the nuisance around Kasteelplein

4

Power of project “23-100 Our Space “: ALL services related to socially vulnerable youngsters are involved from the start.

• Meeting with residents, youngsters, local police and local government representatives on 28 May 2008 : official start of the project

• Local field workers meet 6 times a year in peer groups• Leaders of the organisations involved meet at least 4 times a year. • Every year a meeting, lecture or study day is organised

Look at currently existing services5

• Youth and welfare services for socially vulnerable people are made more accessible

• The importance of outreach : moving out of the office and on to the street

Youth workers go out on the street 6

Every year the youngsters themselves organise several activities and happenings like a ‘hiphopdag’ or making their own video film about Turnhout.

Let the youth take the initiatives 7

• More care, involvement, communication, … ..

less need for sanctions

• ‘Armed’ management : the need for a carrot -stick approach remains

example : local administrative sanctions

More prevention means less repression

8

Our politicians signed an agreement :

• Congregating is a right

• Social nuisance must be considered in all its aspects together with all parties involved

• Always engage the target group in tackling the problem

The importance of a political platform

9

• Communication

is the key word

• Local town government in Turnhout is in control (“coach of a footballteam”)

23-100 Our Space is a never ending process 10