Crime rates fall after youngsters are given 'short, sharp shock'

Only two of the 32 youngsters who took part in a "restorative justice" programme last year have gone on to commit further crimes.

And none of the 13 young people who have participated in the scheme so far this year has re-offended.

The project – which is being trialled in North Lincolnshire and may be rolled out across the other three divisions of Humberside Police – sees those who would normally receive a reprimand or final warning given the option of an alternative course.

The programme requires them to attend a seminar with youth offending services, which looks at their behaviour and its consequences, then carry out two hours of community work before being dealt with in a special "respect" session at a magistrates' court.

The scheme, for under-18s, was initially for those who have been arrested for being drunk and disorderly or for minor public order offences.

It has now been extended to include offences of minor criminal damage, minor assaults and minor thefts.

Offenders are only given one chance of being referred to the project and can only take part with their victims' agreement.

The restorative element has seen offenders clear snow from a residential home, carry out gardening, and tidying up a churchyard.

The mother of a teenage girl who took part in the snow-clearing exercise after being arrested for shoplifting said she was pleased with the outcome – but thought the punishment was too lenient.

"They had to do it when it was minus two and snowing," she said.

"Personally, I didn't think two hours was long enough. It should not have been a one-off.

"I was pleased my child had to do it though."

But project manager for Humberside Police, Sergeant James Main, said the idea was to give young people a "short, sharp shock" and was working.

"I liken it to speed seminars," he said. "If you are caught going slightly over the speed limit you get a chance of avoiding points and a fine.

"In some respects it's a harsher punishment than a reprimand would be because with a restorative justice package it's always done in the community at 9am on a Saturday morning.

"Normally they would just get a reprimand without the community payback.

"It's got to be an even balance – you've got to be careful you don't push them over the limit with how you punish them.

"It's to give them a taste of what the criminal justice system could be all about.

"If they can learn from a short, sharp shock we are onto a winner," he added.

The cabinet member for children's service at North Lincolnshire Council, Councillor Tony Gosling, said: "The system we have in place works because it gives young people a taste of what will happen if they continue to commit crime, it's a great leveller.

"The young people's families, the council, the police and the courts are all involved in helping them stay on the right side of the law.

"By working together we are giving our children and young people a better start in life and helping keep crime down in our communities."

Andrew Percy, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Brigg and Goole, said the project was useful to tackle youth crime.

He added: "It should certainly be one of the arms in the toolkit of the criminal justice system.

"It mustn't be used to prevent people who should receive a tougher sentence from getting a tougher sentence."