Curfew calls time on the rowdy youth of 'Cornwall's Moss Side'

"Have you ever been to the Close Hill estate?" the middle-aged man asked. "Good luck. I grew up there and you should only go if you can fight. And whatever you do, don't stay there after dark."

Hearing this warning, you could be forgiven for mistaking the area for one of the notorious and feared housing estates in poverty-stricken areas of Glasgow, Liverpool or Manchester. But we are in the Cornish town of Redruth.

Historically famous for its tin and copper mining, the parish is now renowned for having one of the highest crime rates in Cornwall; vandalism and antisocial behaviour are the most common misdemeanours. Last night, the town began to enforce the ultimate sanction on its unruly youngsters: a curfew requiring anyone under 16 to be indoors by 9pm.

The initiative, Operation Goodnight, will continue for six weeks and focus on the notorious Close Hill estate – a warren of six streets with a reputation for trouble. To the residents, it's the Cornish equivalent of Moss Side in Manchester or one of Glasgow's sink estates... more>