Over the past year, ten thousand more children and young people have been diverted from a life of crime in England and Wales.
Numbers of first-time entrants to the criminal justice system, aged between 10 and 17, have fallen, according to the latest figures released today by the YJB.
With partners, we have achieved a 10.2 per cent reduction in first-time entrants to the youth justice system in 2007/08 compared with 2005/06, far exceeding its five per cent corporate target.
During the last financial year, 87,367 young people entered the system compared to 97,329 in 2005/06.
The huge drop can be attributed to successful joint partnership working between the police, youth offending teams and agencies based in local authorities and, in Wales, also between the YJB and Welsh Assembly Government.
We have funded local prevention programmes and these are beginning to have impact. Last year, 25,287 young people were reached by some kind of positive intervention.
Frances Done, Chair of the YJB, said:
“The drop in first-time entrants can be attributed to successful joint partnership working between the YJB, police, youth offending teams and agencies based in local authorities. Last year, 25,287 children, young people and parents were reached by some kind of intervention designed to prevent young people offending and encourage their involvement in positive activities. Our intervention programmes are having impact and saving thousands of youngsters from a life of crime.
“The YJB’s vision is to reduce youth crime within neighbourhoods and we are on track to achieve this.”
Click to download details of first-time entrant figures [24.9Kb PDF].
Notes to editors
- The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales. We work to prevent offending and reoffending by children and young people under the age of 18, and to ensure that custody for them is safe, secure, and addresses the causes of their offending behaviour.
- Specifically, we advise the Secretary of State on the operation of, and standards for, the youth justice system; monitor the performance of the youth justice system; purchase places for, and place, children and young people remanded or sentenced to custody; identify and promote effective practice; make grants to local authorities or other bodies to support the development of effective practice; commission research and publish information.