RECENTLY released statistics show that crimes committed by juveniles is declining in Oxfordshire compared to the rest of the country. All in all, 272 individuals under the age of 18 were brought into the Youth Justice System in the last 12 months ? nearly 60% less than in the previous year and 78% down from figures in 2006.
Reasons for the significant drop are cited as being linked to preventative measures put into place by the Youth Justice Board and the Oxfordshire Youth Offending Service. They include targeting potential offenders from a young age and enrolling them in programmes aimed at restructuring their attitudes and habits alongside those of their families, schools and wider communities. Such an approach is seen as helping to end cycles of violence and disorder, thereby breaking negative habits that could lead to children becoming involved in criminal activity.
Sarah Burrows from Oxfordshire County Council said: “This is an excellent result and shows that the methods we employ really do work to improve the lives of young people and the Oxfordshire Community.”
“By targeting vulnerable young people at an early age we are able to intercept and work positively with them to lead them away from a potentially troubled stage of their lives by working closely with them. Credit must go also to the young people who we have worked with as they have responded so well to the methods we use.”
Councillor Louise Chapman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “This hugely positive outcome is an excellent example of how partnership working and a preventative approach can bear fruit for all concerned. Our success will reduce costs to the taxpayer as fewer young people are going through the courts.”
What is the Oxfordshire Youth Offending Service?
The Oxfordshire Youth Offending Service (YOS) is a partnership between council departments (Social and Health Care, Community Safety, Resources), Thames Valley Police, County Magistrates, Mental Health Trust, Oxfordshire NHS, and the Youth Offending and National Probation Service.
It was set up in 1999 to:
Reduce the likelihood of offending by children and young people.
Prevent re-offending by these who enter the criminal justice system.
Help young people repair the damage they have caused by thinking about the effect on their victims.
Encourage young people and their families to take responsibility for their offending.
Re-integrate offenders into the wider community.
Contribute to protecting the public by supporting local crime-reduction strategies.
What is the Youth Justice Board?
Overseeing the youth justice system in England and Wales, the Youth Justice Board is a network of organisations that work together to administer justice and help children and young people to live a life free of crime and anti-social behaviour.
The Board has a wide programme of work to prevent offending, reduce reoffending, increase victim and public confidence in the youth justice system and ensure safe and effective use of custody.
IMAGE: Courtesy of Guardian.co.uk