Offenders complete 1,300 hours of payback

YOUNG offenders have completed more than 1,000 hours of community work across North Yorkshire in the last 12 months.

Figures released yesterday by North Yorkshire County Council revealed that 137 young offenders aged between 10 and 17 have performed more than 1,370 hours of reparation.

The reparation scheme is similar to community service, but it has two main aims – to enable young people to give something back to their victims or the wider community, and to give them a chance to learn new skills and develop confidence.

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In some cases, the young offenders have undertaken work which has been of direct benefit to their victims or have had face-to-face meetings to apologise to them.

Projects in the county in the last year have included clearing up litter, delivering leaflets, tending to community gardens and footpaths, helping in charity shops and hospital kitchens and cleaning beaches.

The county council's executive member for youth justice, Coun Caroline Patmore, said: "Meaningful reparation projects give young people the opportunity to 'pay back' to the community for their offending, and also help to bridge the gap between the community and young people.

"The likelihood of re-offending is also reduced by giving them new skills and confidence."

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The projects that the young offenders work on are arranged by the North Yorkshire branch of the Youth Justice Service.

Members of the public can suggest future community-based or charitable projects by contacting reparation development officers Emily Rumney and Iain Walker on 08450 349497 for schemes in the east of the county.

Their colleague, Danielle Barker, can be contacted on 08450 349478 for schemes in the west of North Yorkshire.