Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

Robbery and Street Crime Seminar

Workshop 3: Young people and street crime

Facts & Figures

• 50% of offenders are between 16-20yrs
  40% of robberies involve a victim and an offender under 21
  76% of victims male
  94% of offenders male

• Whilst each area needs to establish its own offender and victim profile the youth element is likely to be significant in any robbery problem. If robbery is to be successfully dealt with a youth strategy is required.

The Nature of Robbing by Young People

• Young people often do not see robbing as a crime – extension of playground bullying or "taxing".

• Belonging – earning credibility with peers through carrying out robbery.

• Obtaining possessions that they would not otherwise be able to afford e.g. clothing, jewellery or mobile phones.

• Mobile phone is the object of robbery in a significant number of "youth robberies".

• Peak in robberies at end of school day. Location often within vicinity of school gates or transport routes to and from school.

• There is an association between school non-attendance and getting into crime.

Response

• Extending tagging and custodial provision from 16yrs down to 12yrs.

• Increased use of Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme

• Use of Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) is to be encouraged

• DfES Behaviour Improvement Programme

  • Tackling non-attendance including truancy sweeps

  • Multi-agency BEST teams established in some schools

  • Safer Schools Partnerships (Police in schools – to improve behaviour and reduce crime in school vicinity)

  • LEAs to provide full-time education for those excluded from school.

• Gaining entry to schools (in particular the citizenship curriculum) to advise, and creatively engage, pupils on avoiding being a victim but also on the consequences of committing what is a crime. (E.g. "Out of Your Hands" citizenship resource on mobile phone theft.)

• Provision of activities for young people including Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP). It is important to target those young people most at risk of committing crime and to ensure that a relationship is established with a key worker.

Last update: 1/12/04