Sixteen North West local authority areas are being offered a share of £56.5million to tackle youth crime, the Government announced today.
The North West is receiving more funding than any other region with authorities across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire among the 69 areas being offered a cash-injection to prevent and tackle youth crime. The funding is a major milestone in the delivery of the Youth Crime Action Plan, which aims to tackle youth crime through a comprehensive plan of early intervention, 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 £700,000 will be made available to each of the 69 areas to implement an intensive package of action over the next three years, with an immediate cash injection of £90,000 available to each local authority area this year.
This builds on the excellent work already underway in many local areas across the country and on the Government's track record in investing in children and young people. Measures will include:
* using safeguarding laws to remove young people at risk from the streets at night;
* street-based teams of youth workers and ex-gang members to tackle groups of young people involved in crime and disorder;
* increased visible police patrols during after-school hours;
* 20 areas will receive £100,000 to expand Family Intervention Projects;
* providing positive activities for young people; and
* 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.
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 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 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."
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."
In addition 20 local authorities will get an extra £100,000 this year to expand Family Intervention Projects which have demonstrated they can successfully turn around the behaviour of the most challenging families with children at risk of offending. Blackpool, Liverpool, St Helens and Tameside are among the 20 areas. The Government selected the areas using a variety of data to help best focus resources on priority areas.
