HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE VERGE OF CRIMINALITY 24 th January 2008 STEVE SIPPLE – Head of Youth & Community Services HASAN FARUQ – YIP Co Ordinator

Where is Tower Hamlets? We are here !

You may recognise …

About Tower Hamlets A richly diverse area – 70% of under 19s are from an ethnic minority community A young population profile – 28.4% of population aged under 19 A place of contrasts – great wealth in Canary Wharf alongside areas of poverty and disadvantage. One of the 5 Olympic boroughs – bringing new and exciting development opportunities

2012 is a fantastic opportunity for young people 40,000 additional jobs will be created We’ve started getting ready: Building on the London Youth Games Pre-Volunteer Programme Olympic conference for young people in July The Olympics

Tower Hamlets: Context HISTORY FUTURE PEOPLE Settling point for communities new to the country-some transience Poverty and deprivation alongside spectacular physical regeneration By 2016: 25,000 new homes, 40,000 more people, 150,000 more jobs 210,0000 people – 49% from black and minority ethnic backgrounds (BME): of whom 33% Bangladeshi 63% of school population Bangladeshi Over 27% population aged under 19, of whom 76% BME 48% social housing: highest levels overcrowding, high rise, non- decent 40% of all office construction in London Average workplace earnings 72K but 25% of residents earn under 15K Unemployment 9%, but 16+ unemployment 13% - highest nationally Labour control. 51 councillors of whom 29 from BME backgrounds One MP and ten councillors represent the Respect party Strong partnership working across agencies and in local areas CPA three star council and the Partnership has highest rating 6 beacon awards in past four years, LGC award for Children's Services ECONOMY COUNCIL

Our vision for Working in partnership with young people and other key services, we will provide coherent, comprehensive and high quality youth services, which will enable all young people to maximise their opportunities and achieve their potential

YOUTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES Children’s Services Implementation Commissioned/Contracting model Strong central team Voluntary Sector partnerships Young Peoples Participation Robust management systems

YOUTH CRIME – KEY ISSUES Community Perceptions Drugs Territorialism Robbery

HOW DO WE RESPOND YOT Board Crime Reduction Services Safer Neighbourhood Teams Better Tower Hamlets Teams Youth Crime Block (NRF) Rapid Response Team (RRT)

RAPID RESPONSE TEAM Rapid Response Team was established during summer 1999 to deal with street fighting. It successfully used mediation and conflict resolution with young people aged 12 to 21 living in the borough. Councillors and Officers recognises that territorial gang conflicts and anti-social behaviour were increasing amongst young people. RRT has developed from responsive work to a proactive team of well trained, dedicated and committed workers. RRT has now developed 4 mobile projects and leads on the delivery of the boroughs YIP programme.

How RRT work with young people To make contact with young people on their own territory To work with young people who are not regular users of youth clubs/centres To provide opportunities by referring and direct work with young people to acquire skills (Intervention, mediation, job search, training opportunities and etc). To provide a learning/training opportunity for young people in conflict management and conflict resolution To engage participants in self-awareness, group work, self- esteem and confidence building process. To provide opportunity and help young people to contribute to and benefit from their local community

RRT - Target Group Young people aged between 12 to 21 years who are involved in: Gang/street fights Truancy Leaving secondary education without qualification or achieving very little Casual/early stage drug users Petty-crimes (burglary, mugging & car theft) Anti-social behaviours

Youth Inclusion Programme 3 YIP’s funded by YJB and NRF 206 young people targeted 100 other beneficiaries 85% of participants have not offended during programme. 55% accreditation achieved 62 young people exited into other provision

OPERATION “KERB” – reducing street robbery on and by young people 5 micro beats Safer Neighbourhood Team Schools Police Officers Rapid Response Team interventions Surveillance/mounted/undercover

NRF Youth crime reduction Priorities identified through Living Safely CPAG. Anti Social Behaviour Group (ASBAG) Additional Street work – Aasha, RRT Mobile sessions, Docklands Outreach Prevention programmes – COP, LIFE and Tolerance in Diversity.

CASE STUDIES QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS