Exeter University and police work together to reduce re-offending

Innovative work by Devon & Cornwall Police, supported by University of Exeter education experts, aims to decrease youth reoffending and prevent children entering the youth criminal justice system.

Researchers are working with a policing team to support the development of better ways to engage, educate and support at-risk young people. Evidence shows young people who are kept out of the criminal justice system are less likely to offend in the future.

A University of Exeter review says the success of new “Intervention Clinics” is largely down to the enthusiasm, commitment and expertise of the officers involved in delivering them and they are a leap forward in terms of dealing with young offenders.

The pilot scheme in Exeter, East and Mid Devon, which has been developed by the police’s local Child Centred Policing and Partnerships teams and Prevention Dept, seeks to deliver a child-centred approach to youth offending by intervening at the earliest point that criminal behaviour is identified and holistically considering wider circumstances. It has been targeted at young people committing, or suspected of committing, offences for the first time.

Children involved in first time offences are being dealt with through the Intervention Clinics, where they receive educational and trauma-informed one-to-one sessions with a specialist Police Youth Intervention Officer. During the sessions, officers listen to the voice of the child and consider reasons behind the young person’s behaviour, referring them onward to specialist services if they or their families could benefit from further support.

Children have been referred to youth and family intervention teams, diversionary activity and sports groups, drug and alcohol support services, mental health and wellbeing services, safeguarding teams, Victim Support, domestic abuse support services, bereavement and loss support services, and autism support.

Police and partner agencies have identified risk factors for children entering the criminal justice system. These include living with family members who offend or use substances, witnessing domestic abuse, experiencing bereavement or loss, being care-involved, mental health challenges, missing episodes, peer group risks, and moving area. The police team are working hard to reduce associated disadvantage by focussing on education and support needs rather than punitive outcomes.

Inspector Lee Groves, who is overseeing the work, said: “By putting in place timely, child-centred support, we can address the causes which may lead a young person to become involved in criminal behaviour and keep them out of the youth criminal justice system.

“So far this work has increased the quality of intervention we have been able to put in place, gives specialist officers time to foster positive encounters with youth offenders, and has improved multiagency collaboration at these ‘critical moments.

“What we want to do is to address the root causes of the behaviour and prevent re-offending. We know acting quickly is critical. Our early results are positive.”