Criminal damage: Frequently asked questions
young people
How do I engage young people and reduce their risk of offending?
What criminal damage prevention material is available for schools education?
What is the best age group and time of year to target education on criminal damage?
What disposals are available for young criminal damage offenders?
How do I engage young people and reduce their risk of offending?
- The peak age for committing criminal damage is between 14 and 15 (Offending Crime and Justice Survey 2005).
- Any attempts to engage young people are more likely to succeed if they are consulted and fully involved in the development of programmes. Young people are victims of crime too and this can be a useful avenue for engagement.
- Lancashire Strategic Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership commissioned a report, Daring to Damage, which investigated young people's motivations for committing acts of criminal damage in North West England. The report also includes recommendations on the design and delivery of youth facilities and services in the area.
- The Youth Justice Board funded 16 prevention programmes, working with young first time or persistent offenders. An evaluation of the programmes is available on their website.
- Examples of initiatives which have worked with young people and schools incliude Operation Mullion, 'Don't Damage Your Communities' and Spelthorne Borough Council's Sunbury Cross Arts Project.
- Our guide, ‘Tackling Youth Vandalism' gives information about programmes designed to divert young people from vandalism.
What criminal damage prevention material is available for schools education?
- Crimestoppers has developed a site aimed at young people, teachers and youth workers. On the site you will find a 'graffiti cleaner' game, prizes, information on the law around criminal damage and a resource on arson, graffiti and vandalism for teachers and youth workers. Note that you will need Flash Player installed on your machine to view this site.
- The Standards Site, run by DfES, has suggested schemes for delivering citizenship in schools. The framework includes a Respect for Property Unit for Key Stage 1 and 2, and a Crime and Safety Awareness Unit for Key Stage 3.
- The Thames Valley Police website gives details of Operation Rebound, a Safer Streets campaign tackling vandalism. It has information about the consequences for offenders, tips on prevention and campaign posters.
- Network Rail has information on vandalism and a link to their No Messin, Trackoff and Teaching Zones sites.
- The National Community Fire Safety Centre has produced an online Fire Safety Education Programme with resources for teachers.
What is the best age group and time of year to target education on criminal damage?
- According to the Offending Crime and Justice Survey (2005), the peak age for criminal damage offending is 14 to 15. Therefore education work up to this age is likely to have the most impact. Projects such as 'Don't Damage Your Communities'. focus on year 6 (age 10 to 11) before the move to secondary school.
- In areas where criminal damage is a problem during school holidays when young people are bored, education programmes prior to the holidays and diversion activities during the holiday may be appropriate.
What disposals are available for young criminal damage offenders?
Youth vandalism can be addressed through a number of measures:
- Fixed Penalty Notices of between £50 and £80 for minor graffiti and fly posting to individuals aged 10 years and over.
- Penalty Notices for Disorder of £80 to those aged 16 years and over for destroying property that is valued at under £500.
- Acceptable Behaviour Contracts are non-legal contracts between the perpetrator and relevant authority, in which the perpetrator agrees not to perform certain anti social acts.
- Anti Social Behaviour Orders and Injunctions, prohibiting the perpetrator from undertaking specific anti social acts, can be used effectively to prevent criminal damage by targeting persistent offenders and including appropriate prohibitions to ensure that perpetrators do not engage in persistent vandalism. Breach of an ASBO or injunction can lead to a custodial sentence.
- Reprimand or Final Warning can be given by police officers to young people who admit guilt for minor offences. A Final Warning triggers referral to the Youth Offending Team who assess and deliver an appropriate intervention which aims to tackle offending and address the needs of victims. The Final Warning Scheme aims to divert children and young people from their offending behaviour before they enter the court system. Further or more serious offending usually leads to prosecution. Where young people are convicted of offences, we have made a range of effective community sentences and orders available to the courts. These include intervention programmes to prevent the young person reoffending and to help them appreciate the effect of their offence on the victim and community. The young person will be referred to a local Youth Offending Team, which draws up a sentence plan and ensures that they complete the sentence.
Our guides, 'Tackling Youth Vandalism' and 'Tools and Powers for Tackling Criminal Damage' give further information.
Last update: Wednesday, April 02, 2008