  SCOTLAND Police View: Child’s first three years are key to cutting violent crime Our prisons are filled to capacity – 41% of the Scottish prison population are there for violent crime. No-one wants to see their child behind bars, yet more young people than ever are coming into contact with our criminal justice system. This is surely not the reputation 21st-century Scotland wants. The police are committed to reducing violence and making Scotland a safer place for everyone. However, we are realistic – there is no quick fix to such a deep-rooted problem. We are working with our partners in health, education, social work and criminal justice to develop long-term, sustainable solutions. Education and early-years learning are the cornerstones of our long-term strategy and will be fundamental to any success. Everyone must be given the best chance in life from the earliest possible age. People need the right skills to help them navigate life, to make good decisions about themselves; and the development of these skills starts in their first few years of childhood. There is a great deal of published research from eminent sociologists, psychologists and criminologists which shows that children's experiences in the earliest years of their lives are critical to their subsequent development. If they have the right skills, such as empathy, if they have the ability to compromise, to negotiate, to communicate these will help them make good choices in life. They will make good decisions about whether they take drugs, abuse alcohol or become involved in violence. They will start school better able to take advantage of the teaching and to socialise with their classmates. These soft skills are crucial. People often ask why it is that a group of people from the same block of flats can turn out to be so different. Why does one person go on to become a teacher, yet their neighbour grows up to become a violent offender? I believe a major factor will be the emotional support children receive from their parents. I want to make it clear that I'm not talking about bad parents or stigmatising parents, particularly those living in some of our hard-pressed communities. I am talking about the provision of universal services for parents and children, and at the same time identifying and providing any services that are appropriate to individuals, whether it's a lawyer from one of our leafy suburbs on maternity leave or a teenage mum living on her own in an area of high deprivation. Being a parent is the most important role anyone will undertake in their life. Today's children are the parents of tomorrow, and we have to ensure they are equipped with the right skills to pass on to their own children. It is imperative, therefore, that support and assistance is available to families who need it, and this intervention needs to be delivered from birth. The most important years in a child's life are up to age three. It's important to realise we are talking about intervention and not interference. I'm certainly not advocating screening five-year-olds, and that's not my interpretation of the Youth Justice Improvement Group's report, either. If we have the understanding and the knowledge of factors that increase the vulnerability of children, we have a responsibility to design and deliver services that take account of that knowledge. This is all about helping those most in need. This is already happening across Scotland, but we have to ensure there is consistency. We need to co-ordinate our action to improve the quality of life and the prospects of young people in our communities. When I say we, I'm not talking about police trying to intrude in the lives of babies, children or their parents – we, in the violence reduction unit, are simply strong advocates of early-years support and learning. I believe that, like many health problems, it's much better to intervene early with primary prevention, than to deal with problems later when they become difficult to remedy. I believe that investment in early-years support and learning for parents and children is fundamental to the creation of a safer Scotland. Some people may find this uncomfortable – perhaps controversial – particularly coming from a police officer rather than, say, an educational expert, but we all want the same outcome. I have been working in this field for the past two years and I have heard the arguments about stigmatising, social engineering and interference. It seems to me that sometimes these arguments are used as an excuse for inaction. I want services in Scotland that will help our children acquire the necessary life skills that will allow them to aspire to a happy, fulfilled future in a healthier, safer Scotland. No-one can argue with that, surely? This may seem like a daunting task, but I believe that we have an opportunity now in Scotland to be brave and do the right thing for future generations. Detective Chief Superintendent John Carnochan is head of the Violence Reduction Unit of Strathclyde Police John Carnochan |