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Volunteering for Rainer has opened the doors for me...[it] can be stressful at times but if I can make a difference for one young person then it's worthwhile.

Dan Conner, appropriate adult, Rainer East Sussex Appropriate Adult Service

Charities call for shift back to tackling the causes of crime

21 May 2008

 

 In a joint response to the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies' audit of Labour's youth justice reforms, young people's charity Rainer and crime prevention charity Crime Concern said:

 

 "The government's original focus on joining up services to tackle the root causes of crime is absolutely right, but the implementation of this policy has been patchy and, most disappointingly, the aim of reducing the numbers of young people in custody has not been met.

 

 "There are some very good examples of prevention work.  Youth Inclusion Programmes, for example, have been shown to cut arrest rates among young people by an average of 65 per cent, and in Nottingham, through Crime Concern's Nottingham Prevention Programme, there has been a 33 per cent reduction in the numbers of young people entering the criminal justice system for the first time.

 

 "However, these initiatives have been hamstrung by a political climate where the parties often appear to be competing with each other for the title of 'toughest on youth crime'.  Every high profile incident is met with more demands to 'crack down' on young people, irrespective of what we know could actually prevent the crimes of tomorrow.

 

 "Rainer and Crime Concern's work involves forming strong local partnerships and working on the ground to find long term solutions for young people and their families.  This work isn't easy - it's challenging and difficult, but it is only by tackling problems at an earlier stage that we are going to support young people successfully and make our communities safer."

 

Ends

 

Notes to editors

  1. For further information please contact Rainer press officer Lucy Jackson on 020 7336 4814 or 07734 022409
  2. Crime Concern is a national crime prevention charity working to reduce crime and create safer communities. Crime Concern delivers more than 50 prevention programmes in over 70 neighbourhoods across the country and offers a range of offender management services. To find out more log onto www.crimeconcern.org.uk
  3. Rainer is the national charity for under-supported young people.  We have contact with more than 18,000 young people and young adults in 115 communities across the country - including those who are at risk of family breakdown, in or leaving care, caught up in the criminal justice system, homeless, or outside education, training or employment. www.raineronline.org
  4.  On 23 April Rainer and Crime Concern announced their intention to merge and create a new charity. From July 1 the new charity will be known as Rainer Crime Concern.