Southend Children’s Partnership SOUTHEND YOUTH OFFENDING SERVICE Report to Children & Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee JULY 2009

Family Intervention Project (FIP) Who’s it for – Families who present a generational cycle of Anti Social Behaviour What does it do – Provides intensive support with sanctions and possible enforcement action Overall aim – To change behaviour to enable families to live independently in communities and improve the quality of life for those suffering as a consequence of the ASB

Southend FIP Aims to: Stop anti-social behaviour Prevent repeat cycles of homelessness Provide sustainable routes back to settled housing for homeless families Help achieve the five “Every Child Matters” outcomes for children and young people Tackle school absence rates

Youth Crime FIP Since April 2009 the project has been extended through the Youth Crime Action Plan to: Work with families assessed as being at high risk of ASB Target families with children at risk of offending due to domestic violence and family breakdown

Outcomes To date: FIP has worked with 55 families 25 families continue to receive intervention Circumstances of family groups have included – drug and alcohol abuse, ASB, offending, domestic violence, poor school attendance, risk of eviction. 1 family in dispersed accommodation, 1 family in assessment process.

Challenge & Support Project Who is it for – Children and Young People at of risk crime or at risk/engaged in ASB What does it do – Uses a triple track approach of challenge, support and enforcement to ensure the appropriate level of support is put in place at the earliest opportunity Overall aim – To achieve better outcomes for young people, reduce crime and ASB

Challenge & Support Project 320 young people engaged through the Project 165 warning letters sent to young person and parent/s informing of behaviour - research carried out by the National Audit Office showed that 62% of under eighteen’s who received warning letters needed no further interventions. 37 home visits conducted by Key workers and police officers 98 young people’s behaviour being monitored by Key workers 8 referrals (YPDAT, FIP, etc) 12 signed up to Acceptable Behaviour Contracts - non-legally binding contract with the young person outlining the behaviour to be addressed, interventions to be undertaken (and by whom) and the possible consequences of breaking the agreement. Parents are also signed up to a Parenting Contract 6 have now completed Importantly to date, only 13 young people have offended and entered the youth justice system

Youth Crime Action Plan Southend is one of only 69 local authorities to receive funding to implement the seven elements of the Youth Crime Action Plan at a local level. As of April 1st, all 7 elements of the Plan have now been fully implemented. As a brief recap, the aims of each element are:

Operation Staysafe aims to protect vulnerable children and young people whose behaviour or whereabouts places them at risk of significant harm. It uses existing child protection legislation to take these young people to a ‘place of safety’ until they are reunited with their parents/carers. Jan-March 3 Operations 606 children and young people engaged 4 taken to Place of Safety 33 referred for further support April-June 3 Operations 753 children and young people engaged 5 taken to Place of Safety 23 referred for further support

Street Based Teams These teams aim to tackle youth offending and anti social behaviour by engaging disaffected young people on the streets. They target those who have rejected previous offers of support and areas identified by crime intelligence and offer three main types of support, engagement, advocacy and non negotiable support. JAN-MAR 20 deployments per month 313 young people engaged 12 referrals to agencies 156 referrals to positive activities APRIL-JUNE 20 deployments per month 227 young people engaged 24 referrals to agencies 78 referrals to positive activities

After Schools Patrols After school patrols are designed to tackle anti-social behaviour, disorder and more serious offending at school closing time, on problematic school bus routes and at transport interchanges. The visibility of the patrols reassure young people, local schools and communities in areas where crime and disturbances occur while helping to prevent problems and enforce laws as required. JAN-MAR 30 deployments 274 young people engaged 18 referrals to agencies 137 referrals to positive activities APRIL-JUNE 38 deployments 121 young people engaged 14 referrals to agencies 55 referrals to positive activities

Triage This model provides a new option of early diversion for young offenders involved in low level criminality. When a young person is arrested for the first time for an offence with a gravity score of 1-3 and admits the offence they are diverted to the YOS for assessment and intervention. This element began in Southend on 1st April 2009 APRIL-JUNE 88 children and young people have received a Triage disposal 25 were assessed as needing Triage 1 and all these young people have either written a letter or statement of apology 63 were assessed as needing Triage 2 and thus received further interventions as required 44 have completed either a letter or statement of apology 22 attended a Restorative Justice Panel 32 of these young people have also been referred onto other agencies e.g Connexions, Family Support, Young Persons Drug & Alcohol Team, CAMHS. 38 cases remain open and are continuing to receive interventions At the time of compiling this report, only 2 young people have gone onto re-offend

Reparation Reparation activities are carried out during young people’s leisure time, including Friday and Saturday nights. This involves young people on a court order being given ‘pay-back’ community activity. The public can identify the reparation work they would like young people on community sentences to carry out. Whilst we have required young people to undertake reparation since the implementation of the YOS this is extra to our existing reparation opportunities This element began in Southend on 1st April 2009 APRIL-JUNE 31 reparation sessions involving 34 young people These have included leaflet distribution, graffiti cleaning, litter picking, Club 60, and work on the allotment

Youth ASB Reports Total number of calls to the police regarding youth anti social behaviour and youth crime in the Local Authority between: Jan-June Jan-June Reduction of 24%