(GOL) Action plan launched for tackling youth crime in London

LONDON YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION BOARD LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

A plan of action for improving the lives of young Londoners and keeping them safe and out of the criminal justice system is being announced today at an event to mark the work of the London Youth Crime Prevention Board (LYCPB).

The Board's report, "Safer Young London", contains practical recommendations for tackling youth crime and highlights programmes, some already in progress, developed by the Board during its 18-month life.

Keynote speakers at the event in the House of Lords include Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of the LYCPB; Minister for London Tony McNulty; and Mayor Boris Johnson.

The LYCPB met for the first time in July 2007. It brought together senior figures from agencies operating across London in the spheres of youth crime, community safety and children's services, to develop a plan, with specific practical measures to stem the flow of young people into the criminal justice system in London.

The LYCPB's final meeting was in January 2009, but its constituent partners and agencies will continue to implement the programmes and recommendations detailed in the report.

The main chapters of the report - Safe & Sound, Active & Strong, and Crime & Justice, reflect the LYCPB's collective belief that to keep young people out of trouble, they need to feel safe, lead interesting and rewarding lives, and have a criminal justice system that they can be confident in.

It focuses on key "safety nets" for young people:

* The universal safety net offered by schools.

* Provision for children whose behaviour leads to them being excluded from mainstream schools.

* First contact between young people and the criminal justice system.

Initiatives developed by the Board and its members include the innovative London Schools Programme for Safety and Cohesion, which puts schools at the heart of crime reduction, helping young people feel safer in their communities. The programme builds safety and crime prevention measures into the culture of schools, and helps to identify vulnerable children at risk of future offending or victimisation from an early age, so that appropriate action can be taken to support and engage them before it is too late.

The programme was successfully piloted by 27 pupil referral units, faith schools, academies, and primary and secondary schools, working with the Metropolitan Police and other partners, and is to be rolled out across the capital this year. Catering students from one of the "pilot" PRUs, Abbey Manor College, are currently on work experience in the House of Lords kitchens and prepared food and refreshments for the event.

The schools initiative joins up with a project led by London Councils, securing £525,000 from the Government to overhaul PRUs. This project is also a key part of the LYCPB action plan and illustrates the focus on partnership working that will take the action plan forward.

A DVD, "Everything stopped", featuring pupils from the Pavilion Study Centre, a pupil referral unit (PRU) in Barnet, is to be shown at the report launch. The film records their participation in an intensive three-week residency with a professional dance company. Last summer, the DVD was seen by LYCPB members when the centre was included in a series of successful visits by the Board. They were so impressed with the positive impact that the activity had had on the lives of the young people taking part that they decided to show the DVD at today's event, which will be attended by Pavilion head teacher Shelley Dannell and pupils from the centre (including some who appear in the DVD).

Lord Adebowale said: "The majority of young people in London lead positive lives and are a credit to themselves and their communities. But we still need to make a difference in the lives of children and young people who might get drawn into crime and violence, harming themselves and others.

"LYCPB has produced an 'excuse remover' and a means by which all agencies can be held to account to ensure young people at risk in London are never left behind. Key pan-London education, social services and crime prevention agencies need to work together more effectively to form a protective umbrella over the future of young people's lives.

"LYCPB's strength has been its focus, enthusiasm, commitment and successful key partnership approach. It is essential for the future that key agencies continue working together to ensure progress in tackling youth crime and keeping young people safe across London.

"My hope is that, over the coming months and years, we can point to real, substantial progress towards the ambitions we all share, with the changes brought about by LYCPB. I very much hope that LYCPB and its work will be a legacy for others to follow.

Tony McNulty said: "The focus that the LYCPB has brought to the issue of preventing youth crime was necessary and timely. It is not easy to translate the aspirations we share for improving the lives of young people and keeping them out of trouble into firm action, and I have been impressed by how quickly the Board has formed real partnerships and helped to implement practical measures across London. This work has been expertly facilitated by the Government Office for London. I fully endorse the Board's report, and I will continue to lend my support to ensure that the positive changes brought about by the LYCPB are carried forward. "

Boris Johnson said: "Tackling youth crime is an immense challenge, but there is no greater priority. The tremendous hard work of the LYCPB will help improve the lives of young Londoners for years to come. I will continue to work tirelessly with organisations across London to both address youth crime and unleash the talents of thousands of young people who are not being given the opportunities they deserve."

Deputy Chair of London Councils' Children and Young People Forum, Councillor Shireen Ritchie, said: "The Board's greatest success has been in bringing together all those organisations working across the capital to keep young people safe and out of trouble. Working together we have been able to identify key areas where targeted interventions could make a real difference to young people's lives - such as the work London Councils is leading to improve pupil referral units.

"We are proud to have been involved in the Board and, along with our partners, will do all that we can to make its legacy a success."