Brent Youth Survey - Secondary Final

Respondent no.

Brent School Questionnaire (Secondary) Brent Community Safety Partnership Unit are interested to find out how you feel about the area and your life experience in Brent. This questionnaire will ask you a little bit about your area, your schooling, your friends and activities, and your experience of crime and victimisation. Please answer the following questions. Don’t worry, there are no right or wrong answers just answer truthfully about what you think and feel. All of your answers are confidential and will not be seen by anyone else in your school, your teachers, the police or those in charge of your care. They will only be seen by the research team.

SECTION 1: YOUR AREA This section asks questions about your neighbourhood and your experience of the area in which you currently live. 1.1

Do you live in Brent? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No..................................................

1.2

What are the first three letters/numbers of your postcode?

1.3 Thinking about the area you live in, please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements.

Agree

Neither agree or disagree

Disagree

1

2

3

1

2

3

1

2

3

1

2

3

1

2

3

1

2

3

It is a good place to grow up............................................... I feel safe in my neighbourhood during the daytime........... ............................................................................................ I feel safe in my neighbourhood after dark.......................... There are groups in my area that I have to avoid................ There are particular areas I am scared to go to................... I worry about being the victim of a violent crime................

1.4

In the last 6 months have you been threatened or intimidated in your area)? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No.................................................. 1.4a

IF YES, who was this by? 1

1 person......................................... 2

2 people......................................... 3 or more people ..........................

1.5

3

If this group has a name, what is it?

In the last 6 months have you been robbed (jacked) in your area? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No.................................................. 1.5a

IF YES, who was this by? 1

1 person......................................... 2

2 people......................................... 3 or more people ..........................

1.6 your

3

If this group has a name, what is it?

In the last 6 months have you been physically harmed (hit or beaten up) in area? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No.................................................. 1.6a

IF YES, who was this by? 1

1 person......................................... 2

2 people......................................... 3 or more people...........................

3

If this group has a name, what is it?

SECTION 2: YOUR SCHOOL This section asks about your feelings towards and experiences of school. All of the questions ask about the school you are attending now.

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2.1

What school year group are you in? 1

Year 7 ........................................... 2

Year 8............................................ 3

Year 9............................................ 4

Year 10.......................................... 5

Year 11.......................................... 6

Don’t know.................................... 2.2

How do you feel travelling to and from school?

Very safe 1

2.3

Fairly safe

Neither

2

A bit unsafe

3

Very unsafe

4

5

Do you feel safe when at school? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No..................................................

2.4 Below is a list of areas found in schools, please state how safe or unsafe you feel in them. Very safe

Fairly safe

Neither safe or unsafe

A bit unsafe

Very unsafe

1

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

In the school toilets........................ In the school corridor..................... In lessons....................................... In the school playground...............

2.5

In the last 6 months have you been threatened or intimidated in your school? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No..................................................

3

2.5a

IF YES, who was this by? 1

1 person......................................... 2

2 people......................................... 3 or more people...........................

2.6

3

If this group has a name, what is it?

In the last 6 months have you been robbed (jacked) in your school? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No.................................................. 2.6a

IF YES, who was this by? 1

1 person......................................... 2

2 people......................................... 3 or more people .......................... 2.7 your

3

If this group has a name, what is it?

In the last 6 months have you been physically harmed (hit or beaten up) in school? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No.................................................. 2.7a

IF YES, who was this by? 1

1 person......................................... 2

2 people......................................... 3 or more people...........................

2.8

3

If this group has a name, what is it?

Have YOU done any of the following in school in the last 6 months? Yes

No

1

2

Excluded another student from your group of friends...............................................................

1

2

Made another student give you money or other personal possessions...............................

1

2

Threatened to hit or kick or use violence against any other student.................................

1

2

Called another student a hurtful name..............

4

Yes Hit, kicked or used any form of violence against any other student.................................

2.9

1

No 2

Have you ever skipped/bunked school? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No.................................................. 2.10

Have you ever been excluded (suspended) from school? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No..................................................

SECTION 3: YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS This section asks questions about the people you hang around with. We would like to know a little bit about them and what you do together. 3.1 Thinking about your friends, is there one group of friends (two or more people) that you spend a lot of time with? 1

No..................................................

If no, skip to Section 4

2

Yes................................................. 3.2

Including yourself, how many people are in this group of friends? 1

1 to 2 people.................................. 2

3- 5 people..................................... 3

5-10 people.................................... 4

More 10 people .............................

3.3

If so, please state how many?

How did you come to be in this group of friends? (Please tick all that apply)

I grew up with other members of the group.......................................

1

I live in the same neighbourhood as other members of the group...

5

I go to the same school as other members of the group...................

2

I was introduced to the group through friends............................

6

I was offered or given stuff to join the group.......................................

3

I was pressured (coerced) into joining the group.........................

7

5

4

I was asked me to join the group...

3.4

How easy or difficult is it for new people to join your group of friends?

Very difficult 1

Difficult

Neither difficult nor easy

2

Easy

3

Very easy

4

5

3.5 Did/do you have to do something or pass a test to be part of your friendship group? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No.................................................. IF YES, please describe what you have to do?

3.6

How long has your group of friends been together? 1

Less than 3 months....................... 2

3 to 6 months............................... 3

7 months to 1 year........................ 4

1 to 5 years.................................... 5

6 to 10 years.................................. 6

More than 10 years........................

3.7

How would you describe your group of friends? 1

It’s an all boys group..................... 2

The group is mostly boys...............

Go to question 3.7a

3

The group is half boys & half girls.. 4

The group is mostly girls................ 4

It’s an all girls group .....................

Go to question 3.7b

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3.7a

Does your group of friends hang out with a group of girls? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No..................................................

3.7b

Does your group of friends hang out with a group of boys? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No..................................................

3.8 Which of the following best describes the age of you and your friendship group? 1

Under 12........................................ 2

12 to 15......................................... 3

16 to 18......................................... 4

19 to 25......................................... 5

Over 25..........................................

3.9

If so, please state how many?

Which of the following best describes the ethnicity of your friendship group? 1

We are all of the same ethnicity . .. 2

We are a group of mixed ethnicity.

3.10

Does your friendship group have a name? 1

No.................................................. 2

Yes................................................. 3.10a name?

If yes, what is it?

IF YES, do other people know your friendship group by this 1

No.................................................. 2

Yes.................................................

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3.11 Does your friendship group have an area it claims as its own (like a playground, park, stairway, estate or street)? 1

No.................................................. 2

Yes................................................. 3.11a space?

If yes, what is it?

IF YES, are other groups of young people allowed to enter this

Yes 1

Yes, with permission

Depends

2

3

No 4

3.12 Has your friendship group ever defended this space, or stopped other people from being in or near it? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No.................................................. 3.12a

IF YES, how does your group stop people coming in? 1

Intimidate/threaten other groups... 2

Fight with other individuals............ 3

Fighting with other groups............. 4

Other (specify)_____________________

3.13

Does your group have any distinct characteristics? (Please tick all that apply) 1

Leader(s) (Elder(s))........................ 2

Special clothing/jewellery.............. 3

Tag(s)............................................ 4

Tattoo(s)........................................ 5

Special rules or codes.................... 6

Other (specify)_____________________

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3.14 In THE LAST 6 MONTHS has YOUR FRIENDSHIP without you) done any of the following TOGETHER...?

GROUP (with or

Yes

No

Don’t know

Sold illegal drugs (like marijuana, cocaine, crack)........................

1

2

3

Written or sprayed graffiti............................................................

1

2

3

Stolen anything worth more than £5............................................

1

2

3

Driven someone’s vehicle without permission (twoking)..............

1

2

3

Yes

No

Don’t know

Damaged or destroyed goods or property....................................

1

2

3

Snatched anything from a person (e.g. purse, mobile)................

1

2

3

Entered a property to steal things................................................

1

2

3

Bought or sold stolen goods.........................................................

1

2

3

Threatened to beat someone up (jacked/robbed)........................

1

2

3

Taken part in a group fight...........................................................

1

2

3

Set fire to something....................................................................

1

2

3

Beaten someone so badly enough they needed medical help......

1

2

3

Set out to hurt someone with a weapon.......................................

1

2

3

3.15 There are a number of reasons why people hang out together, which of the following describes what you gain from being part of your friendship group. (tick all that apply) 1

These people respect me.............................................................. 2

I feel accepted in my group........................................................... 3

I make friends through my group.................................................. 4

I hang out with my group for the company.................................... 5

It gives me something to do.......................................................... 6

Being in my group helps me meet members of the opposite sex. .

9

7

My group gives me support I don’t get elsewhere......................... 8

Being in my group gives me protection......................................... 9

To get respect............................................................................... Being in my group helps me to gain assets (e.g. money or goods) that I wouldn’t get elsewhere............................................

10

Being in my group helps me to get away with activities (e.g. drugs, stealing, vandalism)...........................................................

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3.16

If you wanted to, could you stop hanging out with this friendship group? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No.................................................. 3.16a

IF NO, why could you not leave the group? (Tick all that apply) 1

I would lose good friends............................................. 2

I would be left out........................................................ 3

I would be bored.......................................................... 4

I wouldn’t have any support......................................... 5

I would be picked on (harassed, dissed, threatened).. . 6

I would be beaten up................................................... 7

I would not have protection......................................... 9

I would not get respect................................................ 10

I would not be able to get drugs.................................. 11

I would not be able to make money............................. 12

Other (specify)________________________________________

SECTION 4: A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOU This section asks questions about you and your family. We guarantee that your answers will not be seen by anyone other than the research team 4.1

Are you a boy or girl? 1

Boy ...................................................

2

Girl....................................................

10

4.2 I am

4.3

How old are you? years old

What is your religion? 1

Christian............................................

5

Buddhist............................................ 2

Muslim..............................................

6

Hindu................................................ 3

Sikh...................................................

7

Jewish................................................ 4

Atheist/agnostic (not religious).........

4.4

8

Other (describe)_____________________

With which ethnic group do you identify?

White

Asian 1

British...............................................

8

British............................................... 2

Irish...................................................

9

Indian................................................ 3

Other (describe)_____________________

10

Pakistani........................................... 11

Bangladeshi...................................... 12

Chinese............................................. (Continued over the page) Mixed Race

Black 4

British...............................................

13

White and Black Caribbean............... 5

Caribbean.........................................

14

White and Black African.................... 6

African..............................................

15

White and Asian................................ 7

Other (describe)_____________________

16

Other (describe)_____________________ 17

If not stated please describe_______

4.5

Which of the following best describes where you live and who you live with? (tick all that apply) 1

I live with my mum...........................

6

I live with my foster parent(s)/carer. . 2

I live with my dad..............................

7

I live with friends...............................

11

I live with my mum’s boyfriend/ partner..............................................

3

I live with my dad’s girlfriend/partner...............................

4

I live with my brother(s)/sisters(s) (including step).................................

5

8

I live alone........................................ 9

I live in a hostel................................. 10

I am homeless...................................

4.6 Have YOU participated in any of the following activities in the LAST 6 MONTHS? (Tick all that apply) Yes

No

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

Sold illegal drugs (like marijuana, cocaine, crack).............. Written or sprayed graffiti.................................................. Stolen anything worth more than £5.................................. Driven someone’s vehicle without permission (twoking).... Damaged or destroyed goods or property.......................... Snatched anything from a person (e.g. purse, mobile)....... Entered a property to steal things...................................... Bought or sold stolen goods............................................... Threatened to beat someone up (jacked/robbed)............... Taken part in a group fight................................................. Set fire to something.......................................................... Beaten someone so badly enough they needed medical help.................................................................................... Set out to hurt someone with a weapon............................. 4.7

Have you been involved in any fights in THE LAST 6 MONTHS? 1

Yes................................................. 2

No.................................................. 4.7a

IF YES, why did you get involved in fighting? (Tick all that apply) 1

It was in self-defence.................................................. 2

I was insulted (dissed)................................................ 3

I was owed me (money, goods)..................................

12

It was about a girlfriend/boyfriend (who you were dating)........................................................................

4

5

To back up my friends/family...................................... 6

They were in my space or on my turf......................... 7

Because fighting is fun............................................... 8

Other (describe)______________________________________

4.8 Have you had any of the following contact with the police or the criminal justice system? Yes

No

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

1

2

Been stopped and searched................................................ Received a reprimand (informal caution)............................. Received a final warning (formal caution)............................ Received an ABC or ASBO.................................................... Been arrested and charged by the police............................ Been convicted of a criminal offence................................... Received a community sentence......................................... Been detained in Local Authority secure accommodation. . . Been detained in a Young Offenders Institution...................

Thank you for completing this questionnaire. Just to remind you that your answers will be kept confidential. Please can you place your questionnaire in the envelope provided and return to the class tutor.

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