CYCJ webinar: Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland – Hearing from the Independent working group

Abstract:

Stories of antisocial behaviour and crime have been in the news much recently, sometimes viewed as the same issue, though they are often separate things. We know antisocial behaviour is not a new challenge, but the way it has been defined and interpreted over the years, especially post-Covid, has changed significantly.

An independent working group appointed by the Scottish Government at the end of 2023. As a group, we were very fortunate to have spent a year travelling around Scotland to hear about antisocial behaviour, speaking to over 250 people and receiving 150 survey responses, we gained a good understanding of ASB, its impact and the causes.

This webinar gives an overview of what the independent group heard, the research evidence and the recommendations presented to the Government to action.

Presenters Bios: 

Professor Fiona Dyer leads CYCJ towards its ambition of ensuring that Scotland’s approach to children and young people in conflict with the law is rights-respecting, contributing to better outcomes for children, young people and communities. This involves supporting professionals from all disciplines who work with children and young people on the cusp of or involved in offending by promoting best practice based on up-to-date evidence and research. Prior to and since joining CYCJ in 2013, Fiona has been committed to ensuring the rights of children in conflict with the law are upheld. Her aim is to provide leadership across all sectors where children are involved to ensure children are treated as children. Her work to date includes the Expert Group on Preventing Sexual Offending Involving Children and Young People, Expert Review on Mental Health and Young Offenders, Age of Criminal Responsibility, Restorative Justice, Children’s Rights and supporting the work of the Youth Justice Improvement Board. Fiona currently chairs the Age of Criminal Responsibility Data and Research Group and the Children’s Rights Group. Fiona has also recently been promoted to Professor of Practice.

Lorraine Gillies is an independent freelance consultant with a portfolio that currently includes delivery of Planet Youth in Scotland – a preventative upstream approach focused around school communities, development of Crofthead Farm Community Development Trust and supporting the West Lothian Community Race Forum. She was previously the Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish Community Safety Network – a professional membership network for community safety practitioners and agencies across Scotland. Her background includes executive level roles in West Lothian Council, where she led the development of an outcomes approach to council services; Audit Scotland, and included responsibility for the National Audit on Self Directed Support and creation of the Community Empowerment and Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Boards and extensive work with charities including Cyrenians, Scottish Drugs Forum, and Foursquare Scotland She is a pioneer of flexible working, has successfully implemented a four-day week and promotes trauma-informed practising workplaces. She is the co-chair of the Independent Working Group on Anti-social Behaviour, a Director of the Donaldson Trust – the National Centre for Neurodiversity, the Chair of the Scheme - a West Lothian recovery charity and is a founder member of The Wedge - a web resource for neurominority women in work. She is a pioneer of flexible working, has successfully implemented a four-day week and promotes trauma-informed practising workplaces. Lorraine is a mum, sister, aunt and granny to a family who mean the world to her. She loves to walk her dog, volunteers for Riding for the Disabled and is a recently diagnosed autistic woman with ADHD. She values people before process; compassionate approaches; creativity and likes to break down barriers.

Lesley McAra is Professor of Penology in the School of Law and Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, at the University of Edinburgh. A past President of the European Society of Criminology, her principal research interests lie in the fields of youth crime, juvenile justice and the sociology of punishment. She is Co-director (with Susan McVie) of the Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime. In 2018, Lesley was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours List for services to criminology and in 2021 she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. With Susan, she has won multiple prizes for research impact, including, in 2019, the ESRC award for Outstanding Public Policy Impact.

Relevant Links -

Report of the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour was publish in February and can be found - here. 

Within the report a Review of Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland - Data Survey & Literature Review. 

There are five overarching strategic recommendations underpinned by 42 supporting actions which are broadly themed/sectoral based.

Important Info:

This webinar will be recorded and shared on the CYCJ website. Cameras and mics will be switched off to all attendees, only the speakers and organisers of the event will have their cameras on.

All registered attendees will be contacted with team's link 24 hours before each session. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact cycj@strath.ac.uk.

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