UK

Special teams help young to break circle of crime

Young lawbreakers are given every chance to change their ways before they end up saddled with a criminal recorded. The Government set up Youth Offending Teams nationwide about five years ago - but the one in Kirklees goes far further than most in the way that it helps youngsters in trouble. The team is a partnership between different organisations which have come together with one aim in mind - to stop youngsters from re-offending. About 45% of those who have been referred to YOTs stay straight, compared to a 75% re-offending rate for youngsters who have spent time in custody.

YOTs try to give youngsters the support and guidance they need to change their ways. And the team often unmasks the real reasons why the youngster committed crime in the first place. Many times it can be surprising.

One youth turned to violence when he stopped taking his medication for a medical condition. Others lash out when they are being teased over something as trivial as how they read out loud in class. That reason could be a learning disability which has never been diagnosed - or perhaps they simply need glasses. Youth Offending Teams nationwide must now draw in people from social services, education, health, police and probation.

In Kirklees things go far further. The team also includes specialist education social workers, health visitors, drug workers, victim liaison workers, a housing adviser and a learning disabilities nurse. In short, all vital services are under one roof, which gives wayward youngsters every chance to get their lives back on track.

About 1,000 are referred to the Kirklees YOT every year from the police or the courts. Every youngster who gets a final warning from the police gets a YOT intervention programme. This means a worker spends up to six hours assessing why the person turned to crime and finding ways to stop it happening again. These could be for offences such as shoplifting, being drunk and disorderly or criminal damage.

Kirklees Youth Offending Service manager Richard Smith said: "It may be they have been caught shoplifting in Huddersfield town centre during school hours. "The assessment will uncover the real reasons why they missed school and sort out some remedial action to solve the problem."

Youth courts can give wrongdoers referral orders. It is a formal court sentence - but if the youngster carries out the order it will not leave them with a criminal record. The orders are innovative in that they can lead to a meeting between two trained community volunteers, the offender and their parent or carer, plus the victim or Victim Support representative. Mr Smith said: "Everyone has the opportunity to speak about the offence, its impact on them and what can be done to right the wrong. "At the end of the meeting a contract will be drawn up, making the way forward clear. "If the young offender refuses to sign it they go back to court to be punished for the original offence." Some of the offences can be serious, ranging from burglary to drugs.

The aim is to make the offender really think about the crime they have committed - and its consequences. Mr Smith said: "We have had some fairly serious offences of violence, where young offenders have been profoundly affected by the damage they have done to someone else, often while under the influence of drink."

And he played tribute to the volunteers. "A lot of people complain about youth crime, but these people have decided to do something to help," he said. "It's quite a commitment. All have undergone six days training and it is all voluntary." The YOT also has around 60 volunteers who are befrienders.

They spend time with the young people and try to get them interested in leisure activities which will distract them from the temptation to fall deeper into trouble. Mr Smith said: "Some have been in a similar situation as young people and know how easy it is to go off the rails. "Others may have had a son, daughter, niece or nephew in trouble. Some want a career in the service and this is a good way to get experience."

But he does not underestimate the task facing the service, with some of the youngsters being excluded from schools or virtually unemployable. He said: "A lot do not have the basic skills to move into employment in terms of their level of reading, writing and numeracy. "They are not a popular group. They are kids who are problematic, disruptive or bullies."

But Mr Smith has a message for people who think young trouble- makers should be simply locked up. "I would say: `Think what you would want to happen if it was your grandchild, son, daughter or nephew'. "You would want to know why they did what they did and then get them some help to turn their lives around."

Andrew Hirst
19 June 2006

Full story

home / Previous feature