Pelly Bay (July 19/04) - A strict curfew for Kugaaruk youth under the age of 16 is working, RCMP say.

In June, more than 100 youths between the ages of one to 18 were seen and heard playing outside at all hours of the night.

People were complaining about not getting any sleep at night, and property damage was getting out of control.

Youths under 16 must now be indoors from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on school nights and midnight to 6 a.m. all other nights.

The penalties for breaking the curfew are $25 for a first offence, $50 for a second offence and $100 for a third offence. "There were a high number of vandalism complaints," said Corp. Ron Smith. "We had numerous members of the community calling the hamlet, the counsellors and the RCMP," Smith said.

"The children can get themselves into all sorts of situations that may be dangerous due to boredom or lack of supervision," Smith said.

In a digital photo snapped by Smith late in June, youths made a styrofoam raft and were taking turns sailing on it in a small pond behind the RCMP office.

A small child drowned in Kugaaruk in June.

Although this drowning was not related to the activities going on late into the night, police and hamlet officials still wanted to take a stand and prevent other tragedies.

Since the hamlet began strongly enforcing the curfew, more and more young people are staying off the streets at night.

By July 14, the RCMP only had to send eight children home, and by 3 a.m. the streets were clear.

Since the new curfew, there has also been a dramatic drop in property damage.

The curfew is a joint effort between the hamlet of Kugaaruk and the RCMP.