The document outlines 10 factors that led to the success of an initiative to address social nuisance issues involving groups of young people congregating in a public square. The factors included thoroughly analyzing the problem with all stakeholders, actively involving the target group in finding solutions, implementing both short-term and long-term interventions, coordinating existing youth services, having youth workers engage with youth directly in the community, empowering youth to take initiatives, balancing prevention and enforcement, gaining political support, prioritizing communication, and taking a continuous process approach.

1. From
tackling the
symptoms
to
a global
approach
Bob Raets
Prevention officer
City Turnhout

6. 10 FACTORS leading to
SUCCESS

7. 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

8. • 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

9. • 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

10. • 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 together3

11. • 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

12. 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

13. • 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 street6

14. 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 initiatives7

16. • 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

17. 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

18. • 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
process10