Twin-track approach to Youth Crime

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Published: 06 June 2007

Twin-track approach to Youth Crime

The Scottish Executive has unveiled plans to focus on promoting positive social behaviour among young people, as well as cracking down on the antisocial minority.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill spoke about the plans during a visit to a street football scheme which aims to divert young people away from trouble.

He met young people, youth workers and police officers involved in the ‘Kicks n’ Tricks’ portable sports arena initiative in Govan last night and will tonight visit another diversionary scheme, ‘Open All Hours’, which provides low-cost leisure activities for youngsters in Edinburgh.

The Glasgow project, which includes ‘Kicks ‘n’ Tricks’ and the ‘Cre8’ mobile internet vehicle, is co-ordinated by a police officer presently working within Glasgow South West Regeneration Agency (GSWRA) and is supported by local police officers.

The new Justice Secretary said:

“I’m delighted that staff from GSWRA, Strathclyde Police and the young people in Govan have allowed me to see this exciting and positive scheme for one of my first official visits.

Young people across Scotland make a vital contribution to the life of our communities – and we need to help more of them do that more often.

This Government shares their ambitions to enjoy life and make the most of their opportunities. We want them to realise their hopes for the future – not become the focus of fear in crime-ridden communities.

Clearly that means coming down hard on the offending behaviour of the small minority of youths who disrupt their communities. Our communities rightly expect nothing less.

But cracking down on the minority will not work in isolation. We also need to do more to support and encourage youngsters with facilities, services, and initiatives that give them something better to do, whether sport, drama or other arts.

And yes, we also need to give them hope and to build up their self-esteem.

That clearly means removing some of the factors that can contribute to crime and offending – the three ‘Ds’ – drink, drugs and deprivation.

We will be setting out in more detail how we intend to do that over the coming weeks and months. But I am using these initial visits to send out a clear message to Scotland’s young people – this new Government will be as resolute in building opportunities for positive behaviour as it is in tackling the mindless few.”

The project provides an opportunity for initial engagement with the local youngsters, and offers educational, social and recreational opportunities within the heart of their communities at the times it is most needed. The areas identified are recognised as being subject to high instances of deprivation and antisocial behaviour.

The ‘Kicks ‘n’ Tricks’ and ‘Cre8’ projects have been running since September 2006 and more than 1,000 young people have used the facilities.

Further information:

Youth crime

Open All Hours

Preventing crime

National Council for Voluntary Youth Services

DfES Youth Green Paper

Global Youth

CYWU Online

Nacro – Youth Crime

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