New discos given the blue light in the Borders
Monday, August 21 2006
A new kind of disco will be launched in the Borders this Autumn with the aim of offering youngsters an event that is sociable, but safe.
No alcohol will be allowed, and everyone will be breathalysed and searched at the door. Anyone who has been drinking or taking drugs won’t be let in, but will be offered on-the-spot support from volunteers. The person’s parents or guardians will also be contacted.
The new discos, called ‘blue light discos’, will be run jointly by local youth groups, community services and the Police to create a safe environment for young people to enjoy themselves.
The concept was developed in Australia, and has already proved a success elsewhere in Scotland. In Dunfermline, where blue light discos were introduced two years ago, the events are credited with helping to reduce youth offending. A group of young Borderers visited a blue light disco in Dunfermline this Easter to see how the new events work.
The first Borders blue light disco is planned for September at the Focus Centre, Galashiels, which is offering the premises free for the inaugural event. It will be aimed at 12 to 16 year olds and run by the Eildon locality team and Lothian & Borders Police with assistance from the Scottish Borders Community Safety Forum. Further events are planned for the end of October and November.
Suzanne Howgego, Eildon locality community police officer, said, “From discussions with my colleagues and also my local policing knowledge and from speaking to the young people themselves, it became apparent that there was a lack of diversionary activities for young people in the Galashiels area.”
Gillian Jardine of Dialogue Youth added, “This is a new and exciting initiative for Galashiels where the partner agencies involved in local children’s services can provide a safe, alcohol and drug free environment for young people. It also allows the police to break down any barriers between them and the young people, and it lets the agencies and the young people make contact in less formal surroundings. It is hoped that all who attend will benefit”
“Since blue light discos were introduced, Dunfermline has experienced a drop in youth offending and hospital admissions to Accident & Emergency departments. The town is now holding discos where more than 400 young people attend, and bigger venues are constantly having to be found. The main aspect of the event is that all tickets are pre-sold and, on entry, all young people are breathalysed and searched. Once inside, there are additional, chill out areas provided which are supported by specific services such as health.”
For more information, please contact Frank Tait or Norrie Tait at Dialogue Youth. Tel: 01896 755110.
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