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I don't get into trouble anymore; I've had my taste of prison. The people from Rainer were the only ones who came to see me.

Rainer young person

Tackling Crime

Key facts

  • Currently there are approximately 2,800 young people under the age of 18 in custody (British Crime Survey Criminal Statistics, 2002).
  • The majority of youth offending is directed against property (British Crime Survey Criminal Statistics, 2002).
  • Between 1992-2001 the number of 10-17 year olds reprimanded, warned, cautioned or convicted of offences fell from 143,600 to 113,800 - a decline of 21% (British Crime Survey Criminal Statistics, 2002).
  • The use of custodial sentencing in the same period almost doubled from just under 4,000 in 1992 to 7,700 in 2001 (British Crime Survey Criminal Statistics, 2002).
  • 85% of young people in prison are reported as having some form of mental health problem (Social Exclusion Unit Report, Reducing Re-offending by Ex-prisoners, 2002).
  • It costs £165,000 per year to keep a young person in a secure training centre, £185,000 in a local authority secure children's home, and £50,000 in a prison (Howard League for Penal Reform, 2004).
  • 12 young people aged 15-17 have taken their own lives in custody since 1997 (Howard League for Penal Reform, 2004). 

Rainer works with approximately 8,000 people a year who are at risk of offending, or who have already offended. We provide a range of support services, often with other agencies like youth offending teams, to prevent youth crime and anti-social behaviour. Our services give young people a clear structure in their lives and tackle the underlying causes of their offending. We help young people recognise the consequences of their crime, for their own benefit, for their victims and for the community in which they live.

At Rainer, we believe that the best environment in which to do this is in the young person's own community. Sending young people to the potentially damaging environment of custody should only be used as a last resort. In our experience, community-based penalties are much more effective in helping to break the complex offending cycle.

We believe custody should be the last resort for young people.

Rainer recognises that both young people and communities need support to work together towards a safer environment and to prevent crime.

Community prevention

Rainer runs a number of programmes for young people at risk of offending including, for example, Youth Inclusion Programmes (YIPs), run in conjunction with the Youth Justice Board.  These projects engage young people who have come into contact with the police for the first time and help those young people and their families find strategies to avoid further offending.

Appropriate Adults

Rainer has a network of 300 appropriate adult volunteers that accompany young people in police custody when their parent or guardian cannot attend during questioning. Our trained volunteers ensure the young person is treated fairly, facilitate communication, and ensure the rights of the young person are protected.

Bail and remand services

Working in partnership with Youth Offending Teams, Rainer has developed a range of bail and remand management services and remand management strategies to meet local needs. Our models reflect our commitment to reducing re-offending on bail, reducing delays and minimising the use of remands to custody.

Resettlement

Rainer leads a 27-strong agency partnership that looks at the changing needs of young offenders as they move through custodial sentences back into the community. The Planned Resettlement into Sustainable Employment (PRISE) project aims to create a 'seamless sentence' as the young person begins custody, moves through their sentence, back into the community, and on into education, training or employment.

Mentoring

We have over 400 trained mentors who work with young people to prevent offending. They not only provide advice and guidance to the young person, but also act as a role model. Rainer has developed an accredited training programme for mentors, to BTEC Level 3, and we provide training and consultancy to other agencies.

Supported accommodation

Our housing services not only help young offenders find suitable and stable accommodation, but we also provide outreach support for each individual, providing help to learn the practical skills they need to build a safe and stable home, such as budgeting and cooking.

Contact: chris.chaston@raineronline.org or gemma.buckland@raineronline.org