Fewer children committing crimes in East Lancashire (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Fewer children committing crimes in East Lancashire

9:00pm Tuesday 8th December 2009

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FEWER and fewer children are committing crimes in East Lancashire, new figures have revealed.

The numbers of youngsters aged 10 to 17 in Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire being reprimanded for the first time, warned by police or convicted of offences has dropped.

And the joint partnership with Lancashire Constabulary and the council’s youth offending teams has seen the numbers being convicted drop below the north west and the national averages.

Figures released by the Department of Children, Schools and Families show Blackburn with Darwen show 1,260 young people were reprimanded, warned or convicted in 2008/2009.

In Lancashire the number was 1,310 compared to a north west average of 1,510 and 1,472 nationally.

Lancashire youth offending team has implemented a number of strategies including 12-week programmes of individual support addressing the consequences of anti-social behaviour and crime, victim awareness and effect of anti-social behaviour on communities and parenting support through Action for Children.

Lancashire County Councillor Mark Perks, cabinet member for young people, said: “Preventative work is crucially important in both human and cost terms. It can provide better lives for children and young people and safer, more confident communities.

"Our work depends on multi-agency working where partners are key and in the east of the county. A particularly innovative piece of work, the Burnley prevention panel, brings together partners from wide range of voluntary and statutory agencies to address issues facing children and young people at risk of anti-social and offending behaviour."

David Fleming, Blackburn with Darwen's youth offending team manager, said: "Blackburn with Darwen Council's Youth Offending Team is using a number of initiatives that have helped contribute to this success including diversionary activities to encourage young people to spend their time on positive pursuits.

"Close partnership working and a commitment from all youth offending team partners to use resources to help prevent offending is a key tool in diverting young people away from offending."

Inspector John Clucas said: “The number of criminals entering the criminal justice system has reduced which is down to the hard work of ourselves and the youth offending teams.”

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