The Stage

West End kids ban will hit box office, says SOLT chief

Published Thursday 5 August 2004 at 10:20 by Ruth Gillespie

Society of London Theatre chief executive Richard Pulford has described as “appalling” plans to impose a blanket curfew on young people under the age of 16 wishing to visit the West End without an adult.

Under the 2003 Anti-Social Behaviour Act, Scotland Yard has designated 16 ‘dispersal areas’ across the capital, including Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, where police officers have the power to remove children unaccompanied by an adult between 9pm and 6am and return them to their homes.

The move, which has been introduced in partnership with Westminster City Council, was designed to help the authorities tackle unruly gangs in the West End and protect vulnerable children. But critics have condemned the scheme as a waste of police time and an infringement of civil rights, arguing that many film and theatre performances do not even start until after 9pm.

Pulford said: “We do everything we can to encourage young people to come to the theatre and there is no reason why they should not do so without an adult - many of today’s industry figures cut their teeth doing this. If a young person comes to watch a performance they cannot avoid being on the streets after 9pm. You wouldn’t be out of any show until after 9pm and the same applies to the cinema.

“I am in favour of controlling anti-social behaviour but enforcing a blanket curfew in this way is appalling. I believe it will put off a number of people, including parents, going to the West End, which would be disastrous. Scotland Yard did not consult SOLT on this matter, which came out of the blue, and I have written to ask how they propose going about this.”

The pilot scheme, one of many that have been agreed between police forces and local authorities throughout England and Wales, will remain in place until January 2005 when it will be reviewed.

Metropolitan police deputy commissioner Ian Blair said: “We want to make the area safe and enjoyable for as many people as possible. That anyone under 16 should be in the West End of London unaccompanied after 9pm does not seem a good idea. We now have the power if we find the children to take them home. I don’t think any responsible parent would like their 15-year-old unaccompanied in the West End after 9pm.”