Persistent offending by young people damages too many of Scotland's communities. It creates victims, destroys property and ruins lives. It costs society resources which could be better spent.
The Scottish Executive wants to promote effective measures which stop or at least reduce such offending. To achieve this two approaches are needed. The first is to intervene early and take preventive measures. This we are doing through our policies on early years services, health, education including pre-school education, social inclusion and better public services. Social inclusion means helping Scotland's youth to contribute to the Scottish civic society and feel part of their community and providing them with opportunities.
The second is to take effective action when offending occurs. The research evidence continues to show that short custodial sentences do not have a lasting impact on young offenders. Better results are achieved through challenging community programmes which address offending and its impact on victims and which effect long term behavioural changes.
The report of the Advisory Group established after the Cabinet's discussion in November last year reaffirms the benefits of challenging but constructive measures. The consultation exercise undertaken demonstrated widespread support throughout Scotland for a greater range of interventions for tackling offending by young people and for enhancing the effectiveness of our unique system of Hearings. In publishing this report, the Scottish Executive signals its support for these recommendations. Our response and the proposed way forward are set out in this document. We would welcome further views before developing the recommended National Strategy but we are committed to immediate action on some of the recommendations.
The projects proposed are not easy options. They require young people to face up to their offending behaviour, to examine the consequences of their actions and where appropriate to make amends directly. They make young people and families work through their problems and attitudes. They will be available both to the Hearings and the courts.
Changes will not occur overnight. But we need to begin now the process of providing effective interventions and strengthening local capacity to deliver. The Hearings system provides a sound basis on which to build. We recognise that progress cannot be achieved without additional resources. That is why we are investing £3m of new money immediately to enhance the services available both to hearings and to courts and to deliver Scottish solutions to Scottish problems.
We commend this report and our response to all those who want to see a positive and challenging approach to dealing with persistent young offenders.
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Jim Wallace QC MSP |
Sam Galbraith MSP |