Negative media images affect the way in which we perceive the behaviour of young people, an education minster argues.Sarah Teather, Minister of State for Children and Families, was among a panel of experts fielding questions from young people and professionals when she made the comments.



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Negative media images affect the way in which we perceive the behaviour of young people, an education minster argues.

Sarah Teather, Minister of State for Children and Families, was among a panel of experts fielding questions from young people and professionals when she made the comments.

The debate, organised by Brent Youth Parliament, examined ways of challenging negative media stereotypes and 'Asbo teen' style newspaper headlines.

The minister was answering a question on what can be done to educate professionals who work with young people, to ensure that they understand that respecting teenagers and children is key.

She said: "This is about how attitudes and about how negative stereotypes affect the way in which we perceive behaviour, so that behaviour that may not be aggressive - it may not be helpful, or it may annoy you a bit - is then immediately perceived as being aggressive.

"Now that is not to say that there aren't some people who behave really badly on buses, because there are. But sometimes young people are just a bit noisy because they have come out of school, and they have been cooped all day, and they are with their friends."

The panel also included Brent police commander Chief Supt Matt Gardner, Cllr Roxanne Mash, co-chairwoman of Brent Youth Parliament, Andy Hamflett, chief executive of the UK Youth Parliament and Andy McCorkell, Times news editor.

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