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Offending by young people
19/06/2008
A focus on strengthening prevention, early intervention, managing high risk, victims and community confidence and planning and performance improvement is at the heart of a Youth Justice Framework published today.
The Framework has been agreed by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) the Scottish Children's Reporters Administration (SCRA) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
It includes key actions such as:
- Expanding positive opportunities for young people
- Support parental and child responsibility
- Put in place effective information sharing systems
- Improving the range, quality and effectiveness of residential services for young people
- Develop evidence based interventions for offending linked to drug misuse
- Promote positive relationships and behaviour in schools ensure the relevant inspections reflect these objectives
Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing said:
"The vast majority of young people in Scotland are well behaved and are a credit to themselves, their families and their communities. In Government we need to make sure that young people get the opportunities and support to be all they can be.
"This Framework puts in place a clear plan that has been agreed by all relevant agencies so that everyone in Scotland knows what is being done to support young people and tackle youth offending and what their role in that effort is.
"The guiding principles of prevention, early and effective intervention, managing high risk, victims and community confidence and planning and performance management set out a clear direction of travel.
"We need to give young people more choices and chances - for example our CashBack for communities scheme provides football, rugby, arts and culture opportunities for young people. We are also tackling the root causes of crime - drink, drugs and deprivation - to make sure less young people are trapped in the cycle that leads to the life of crime.
"Effective and early interventions for those at risk of offending is also a key principle of our approach. We've already seen the great results that can be achieved through restorative justice warnings that help offenders understand the impact a crime has on the victim. This is exactly the type of system that can prevent young people becoming repeat offenders.
"But we can't simply turn a blind eye to those who are high risk, or who are already on the offending path. We need to keep working to try and turn their lives around. We've already extended Intensive Support and Monitoring to help manage high risk and vulnerable offenders in the community. We will work with local providers to ensure the right range of residential options to complement this.
"Helping victims and making sure communities have confidence in the actions being taken to manage youth crime is a challenge we need to step up to making sure victims are kept informed and communities come together to provide a safer environment.
"Addressing planning and performance improvement can help make sure at risk young people are identified early - information sharing between agencies can help with this. I believe this framework and the principles behind it can deliver a better future for young people and communities across Scotland."
Assistant Chief Constable Derek Penman said:
"ACPO(S) welcomes this Youth Justice Framework. This partnership approach to developing responses and delivering better outcomes for children and young people who are involved in offending and antisocial behaviour is fully supported by the police service.
"In particular we are signed up to supporting key areas within the framework: to address offending and reoffending by taking early and effective action; managing the harmful behaviour that can be caused by a small proportion of young people; and reassuring victims and communities that action is being taken to address their concerns.
COSLA Education, Children and Young People Spokesperson Councillor Isabel Hutton said:
"The youth justice framework published today marks a new direction for youth justice policy in Scotland. As the Minister said the majority of Scotland's young people are well behaved and contribute positively to communities. This is a sentiment which I completely support, as too often in the past we have not portrayed Scotland's young people in a positive light.
"However, the framework also recognises that there are deep seated social problems which have to be addressed, which increase the likelihood of young people offending or becoming involved in anti-social behaviour. If we don't tackle the underlying causes as well as the symptoms of inequality then we risk perpetuating the cycle into future generations.
"We have to better support vulnerable young people who have often experienced chaotic and turbulent lives. The framework therefore takes on board the principles of early intervention and prevention that were agreed by COSLA and Scottish Government earlier this year.
"The framework has been developed jointly by partners in local and national Government, and we are collectively responsible for its delivery. This won't be achieved over night, but I do believe that by working together we can improve the lives of both young people and the communities in which they live."
Douglas Bulloch, Chair of SCRA, said:
"We welcome the introduction of the Scottish Government's new Framework for preventing offending by young people. It is important that agencies work together to ensure that children and young people who offend or who have behavioural problems, receive the most appropriate and effective help to turn their lives around."
Lord Advocate Eilish Angiolini said:
"I am pleased to endorse the new Framework and to encourage prosecution staff to join with other agencies in seeking effective and imaginative ways of dealing with youth offending."
Louise Macdonald, Chief Executive of Young Scot, said:
"Young Scot fully supports any inititatives which aim to improve positive opportunities for young people. The vast majority of young people in Scotland do not commit crimes and as the national information charity for Scotland we hear stories about young people doing great things for their communities every day. But we also recognise that some may need additional support and so welcome any plans which sees the Scottish Government working in partnership with other organisations and agencies to ensure this is acknowledged. We hope the Youth Justice Framework will help to give our young people more choices and more chances and we believe this can only be a good thing."