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16 September 2008
The government has announced substantial funding to prevent youth crime in communities across England.
More after-school patrols and street-based teams to prevent and tackle youth crime will be funded by a cash injection of almost £60 million into 69 local authority areas in every corner of England, the government announced today.
The funding is a major milestone in the youth crime action plan (new window), which launched in July. It aims to tackle youth crime through a comprehensive strategy involving early prevention, non-negotiable support and tough enforcement.
All parts of England will be offered the funding to boost the drive to tackle youth crime, but today each of the 69 areas are being offered £700,000 for intensive action over the next three years, with an immediate cash injection of £90,000 available to each local authority this year.
This builds on the excellent work already underway in many areas across the country, and on the government’s track record of investing in children and young people.
Key measures
Measures will include:
- using safeguarding laws to remove young people at risk from the streets at night
- building street-based teams of youth workers and ex-gang members to tackle groups of young people involved in crime and disorder
- increasing visible police patrols during after-school hours
- expanding family intervention projects to respond more effectively to families at risk
- providing positive activities for young people
- placing youth offending team workers in police stations so that young offenders can be dealt with and directed to the most appropriate service at the earliest opportunity
In addition, 20 local authorities will get an extra £100,000 this year to expand family intervention projects.
These projects have already demonstrated they can successfully turn around the behaviour of the most challenging families with children at risk of offending.
Home Secretary's statement
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said, 'I know the vast majority of young people are on the right track but there is a minority whose behaviour causes disruption to their communities.
'I want young people to be able to fulfil their full potential but that means intervening as early as possible to prevent offending and to ensure that unacceptable behaviour is tackled effectively.
'There is not an either/or option in tackling youth crime: we need both tough enforcement and effective preventative measures to drive down youth crime and anti-social behaviour.
'The money we are investing today demonstrates this Government’s determination to tackle youth crime and improve the quality of life for young people, their families and their communities.'
Children's Secretary's statement
Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said, 'The vast majority of young people play an active, positive role in their communities and are a credit to their families, schools and themselves. But there is still a small minority of young people who cause problems in their communities and become involved in crime.
'This money, available through the youth crime action plan, will help local areas tackle youth crime, by addressing both the causes of offending and offering the right support to help young people get their lives back on track.'
Justice Minister's statement
Justice Minister David Hanson said, 'Knowing that funding is guaranteed for the next three years will make it easier for local authorities to plan how they best tackle youth crime in their area.
'In working with local councils we are targeting this investment to ensure that we reduce youth crime rates and make our communities safer. The extra funding will support work already underway to help young people turn away from a life of crime.'
Action for Children statement
Clare Tickell, Chief Executive, Action for Children, said, 'The ongoing commitment and investment in youth crime is welcome. However, as well as looking at underlying root causes that can draw young people into crime we need to provide advice and access to practical support.
'Further investment in intensive family support will achieve this, by supporting those most in need. By providing ongoing, tailored help and creating a stable family environment we can break down patterns of anti-social behaviour.
'Parents also need help to develop qualities like self-confidence and resilience in their child so that they have the emotional skills to deal with conflict, without resorting to violence.'
Notes to editors
The youth crime action plan (new window) was published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (new window), Home Office (new window) and Ministry of Justice (new window) on 15 July.
All parts of the country will get some support through the action plan. £22 million will be distributed to areas outside these 69 local authority regions. The government will announce further details this in the near future.
All areas will be able to draw on improved advice and support from experts on tackling youth crime.
Some measures will also apply to Wales - the government will be working with the Welsh Assembly to deliver these.
The government selected the areas using a variety of data to help best focus resources on priority areas.
The 69 English local authorities are listed below.
- Barking and Dagenham
- Barnsley
- Birmingham
- Blackburn and Darwen
- Blackpool
- Bolton
- Bournemouth
- Bradford
- Brighton and Hove
- Bristol
- Camden
- Coventry
- Croydon
- Darlington
- Derby
- Doncaster
- Durham
- Gateshead
- Greenwich
- Hackney
- Halton
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- Haringey
- Harltepool
- Islington
- Kingston Upon Hull
- Kirklees
- Knowsley
- Lambeth
- Lancashire
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Lewisham
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- Middlesborough
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Newham
- North East Lincolnshire
- North Lincolnshire
- North Tyneside
- Nottingham
- Oldham
- Peterborough
- Plymouth
- Portsmouth
- Redcar and Cleveland
- Rochdale
- Rotherham
- Salford
- Sandwell
- Sheffield
- Slough
- South Tyneside
- Southampton
- Southend-on-Sea
- Southwark
- St. Helens
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Sunderland
- Tameside
- Torbay
- Tower Hamlets
- Trafford
- Wakefield
- Walsall
- Wigan
- Wirrall
The 20 areas that will be offered the additional £100,000 family interventions project funding are:
- Blackpool
- Gateshead
- Hackney
- Islington
- Kingston Upon Hull
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- Nottingham
- Portsmouth
- Rotherham
- Sandwell
- Southend-on-Sea
- St. Helens
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Sunderland
- Tameside
- Torbay
- Wakefield
- Walsall
