Appendix C

Working with Young People to

Reduce Crime and Disorder

Young people are often said to be ‘the future’, ‘the next generation’ but they are here now, they are the present and, in global terms, if they do not receive equal treatment and consideration there will always be problems of rebellion, feelings of exclusion and the generation-gap syndrome.

The vast majority of young people are not perpetrators of any crime and disorder issues and, in fact, are more likely to be victims than an offender. However, there is a small percentage that is responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime and disorder, which affects the lives of many people.

In order to reduce the number of offences committed by young people and the numbers of young people being the victim of crime it is crucial to engage with young people and identify actions that are appropriate to their needs.

Findings

Crime Concern (National statistics)

• 25% of crimes by 14-25 year olds are committed by 3% of this age group.
• The peak age of offending is 21 years for males and 16 years for females.
• The most common age for starting to offend is 13 years.

The most common offences committed by:

• young people are - shoplifting and handling stolen goods
• young men is – fighting in a public place

The proportion of different age groups who are victimised:

• Violence (male victim) 16-24 years 22%

25-44 years 6%

45-64 years 3%

• Burglary 16-24 years 15%

25-44 years 5%

45-64 years 4%

Youth Offending Team (Isle of Wight Statistics)

Percentage of young people who have re-offended after receiving a Final Warning or being made subject to an Order by the Court: -

Final Warning 30% down to 17%

Reparation Order 65.3% down to 49.2%

Action Plan Order 73% down to 62.5%

Supervision Order 71.5% down to 53%

Detention and Training Order 50% down to 32%

3-year trend (April 1998 to March 2001)

Other Issues

The cost of public transport and entry into leisure facilities are the two main complaints of the older young people, whilst the younger ones complain of nothing to do and/or nowhere to go/play. The inclusion of green areas/play areas is decidedly lacking in modern development applications. All these issues are important and have a direct impact on crime and disorder issues.

There are over 20 Isle of Wight key plans/strategies that are targeted at the 13-19 age group alone. The definition ‘Young People’ varies amazingly between agencies and so it is important that partnership working is encouraged to avoid duplication and the possibility that any age group is overlooked.

Examples of Good Practice on the Isle of Wight

Foyer

Medina Housing Association built a Foyer, in Ryde, for young people to reside and learn in. The target residents were young people who were homeless or leaving home, without sufficient qualifications to find sustainable employment. The Foyer does not provide permanent accommodation but long enough to give the young people a sound base in key skills before employment and moving into independent accommodation.

Mobile Youth Initiative

To address the lack of youth clubs in rural villages, the Youth and Community department of the Isle of Wight Council purchased a double decker bus and re-furbished it as a mobile youth club. The bus was launched on 6^th October 1999 and covers villages such as Chale, Lake, Brook and Brighstone.

Isle of Wight Objectives

• Consult and involve young people in Community Safety activities
• To increase the usage of local facilities by young people
• To reduce the level of complaints about the activities of young people
• To increase the level of inclusion of young people in pre- and post- 16 education
• To encourage the diversion of young people away from offending
• To ascertain the needs and wishes of young people
• To reduce the illegal sales of alcohol and tobacco
• To discourage anti-social behaviour by young people

· To confront young people with the consequences of their offending

· To encouraging reparation to victims

• To reinforcing the responsibilities of parenting

Targets

1. To maintain the downward trend in youth (10-17 years) crime, by 5% for the year 2002/2003. Special attention required for the areas of rising crime.
2. Reduce permanent exclusions and unauthorised absences by 2% for the year 2002/2003 (10% to 8%).
3. To reduce by 5% the amount of repeat offending committed by young people by 2005.
4. The Youth offending team to provide four quarterly reports, for the Crime and Disorder Partnership, providing information about youth crime and youth justice services.
5. Referrals to parenting programmes in 10% of all final warning cases.