Legal News

The number of young people in Southampton entering the criminal justice system for the first time has reduced by almost half in two years.

The figure fell from 200 in 2012-2013 to 102 in 2014-2015, while custodial sentences in the same period fell from 27 to 13.

The figures from the Ministry of Justice also reveal fewer young people in Southampton who get in trouble with the police are re-offending.

The percentage of young people who re-offend has dropped from 48.6% in 2011 to 33.8% by 2013 – the most recent verified figures available. This is better than the national average, where 37.2% of young offenders re-offend.

Southampton Council says the improved outcomes for young people at risk of offending are a result of innovative practices being delivered the Southampton Youth Offending Service (YOS) and its partners.

The Southampton YOS was formed in 2012, after devolving from the Wessex Youth Offending Service, to enable the team to provide a more focused, targeted service.

Figures from 2011 show that Southampton had one of the highest rates of young people re-offending in the region.

The service has since turned this around, delivering improved outcomes for young people in the city across all its key indicators. Central to this improvement has been a focus on early intervention and strong, effective partnerships, says the council.

Chair of Southampton’s Safe City Partnership, Superintendent James Fulton, said:

“In the past, there was a perception that there was little choice in terms of how young offenders were dealt with, which resulted in some young people not getting the support and supervision that was right for them and their circumstances.

“Ultimately, this resulted in some remaining in the criminal justice system, when there were alternatives.

“Now we have a weekly multi-agency meeting, which allows us to fully explore all of the options available – with a strong partnership approach to reducing youth offending and improving outcomes for victims of crime.

“The great partnership approach between all agencies and the voluntary sector has led to this significant progress.

“Now is not a time to get complacent, but continue to work hard on alternative solutions to managing young people who have brushes with the law.

“Diversion and education is the best approach – but this should not stop us using the ultimate sanction of criminal convictions and custodial sentences when the offending is repeated and for the most serious offences.”

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