To help reduce offending by the most prolific young people who have offended, the YJB makes its Prevent and Deter Youth Justice Interventions Operational Guidance for Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) available online today.
Around 3% of young offenders are responsible for 25% of all youth crime – by targeting this group some of the most crime-ridden communities could benefit.
Crime Concern, the national crime prevention organisation, produced the Guidance which was funded by the Government Office for London and commissioned by the YJB.
Youth offending teams (YOTs) in London provided much of the information that has formed the report. The Guidance identifies practical and effective ways of how agencies can work together to help the highest risk young offenders turn their backs on crime and instead lead constructive lives. It also highlights examples of emerging best practice across London and includes useful tools for practitioners which could have practical application across the country.
Susannah Hancock, YJB’s London Regional Manager, said: “Young people are capable of change, and effective interventions can help improve their behaviour.
Practitioners should be reminded that Prevent and Deter is not just a YOT responsibility – it needs commitment from CDRPs if we are to tackle this difficult area. We anticipate that the Guidance can be applied across the England and Wales, even though they study group constisted only of London YOTs.”
Crime Concern senior consultant Lizzie Peters said: “The guidance is the result of careful consideration of what works when trying to prevent and deter prolific and high risk young offenders from crime. I'm confident that this good practice guide can make a real difference at a local level, resulting in reduced levels of youth offending.”
The three main messages from the guidance are:
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a Prevent and Deter multi-agency panel should be set up in each borough to oversee prevent and deter cases – sharing information and allocating resources
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all local agencies (YOTs, housing, education, social services, police, etc.) have a role to play in providing ongoing support to young people who have completed their youth justice interventions. The Guidance details how each partner can contribute to help these young people lead more productive lives
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local agencies need to target resources at these high risk young people in order to have most impact on local crime rates.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
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The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales. We work to prevent offending and reoffending by children and young people under the age of 18, and to ensure that custody for them is safe, secure, and addresses the causes of their offending behaviour.
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Specifically, we advise the Home Secretary on the operation of, and standards for, the youth justice system; monitor the performance of the youth justice system; purchase places for, and place, children and young people remanded or sentenced to custody; identify and promote effective practice; make grants to local authorities or other bodies to support the development of effective practice; commission research and publish information.
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Crime Concern is an independent crime prevention organisation working to create safer communities. It runs over 40 prevention programmes in more than 70 locations. For more information visit www.crimeconcern.org.uk
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Government Office for London provides support, advice and challenge to the 33 London boroughs in responding to the needs of their communities. For more information visit www.gos.gov.uk/gol/
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The guidance is available online at: http://www.yjb.gov.uk/PractitionersPortal/PracticeAndPerformance/PPO/
© Crown copyright material reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland
