Its survey of more than 2,000 adults in the UK, published on Monday, found that 54 per cent think that children are beginning to behave like animals, and that 49 per cent agree that children are increasingly a danger to each other and to adults. Forty-nine percent disagreed with the statement that children who get into trouble are often misunderstood and in need of professional help.
Martin Narey, chief executive of Barnardo's, said, 'It is appalling that words like "animal", "feral" and "vermin" are used daily in reference to children. The British public overestimates, by a factor of four, the amount of crime committed by young people.'
Barnardo's is launching a new campaign, entitled Breaking the Cycle, on 24 November, aiming to change negative attitudes to children. The campaign says that those who engage in antisocial and criminal behaviour tend to be those who come from the poorest families and communities, to have the poorest educational experiences and to be more likely to suffer from poor health, including mental health and substance misuse. It recommends solutions such as providing intensive support for families, family group conferencing to change unhelpful patterns of behaviour, and alternative education for children who are in care or who are excluded from school.
More details on Breaking the Cycle are available at www.barnardos.org.uk.
