Youth Offending - The Herefordshire Partnership

Youth Offending

Offending and in particular re-offending is not considered to be positive behaviour.  The Youth Offending Service work with and monitor all offenders that are aged between 10 - 17 years old.

This indicator was adopted by Herefordshire Community Safety and Drugs Partnership within their priority section of young people.  The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales and works to prevent offending and re-offending by children and young people under the age of 18.  The YJB also works to ensure that custody for them is safe, secure, and addresses the causes of their offending behaviour.  Herefordshire and Worcestershire Youth Offending Service is the organisation who works locally with young people living in Herefordshire who have offended.

Chart 1. Number of first time entrants to the Youth Justice System

In 2007-08, there was a large decrease in the number of young people who entered into the Youth Justice System for the first time.  This has met the target set for 2007-08 to have less than 322 young people entering the YJS for the first time.

Source: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Youth Offending Service

This particular indicator monitors cohorts of young people in Herefordshire who receive either a court sentence, a police reprimand or a police final warning during October to December each year and whether they have re-offended in the following 2 years.  Comparisons are made with neighbouring county, Worcestershire.

Chart 2.  Proportion of young people who offended during the last quarter of the year that have re-offended during the next 2 years

In 2007, 47% of Herefordshire young offenders had re-offended during the two years after they had first offended.  Unfortunately this has not met the target set to have a re-offending rate of 45% or less. 

Herefordshire's performance is similar to that of Worcestershire.

Source: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Youth Offending Service