CATCH 22 BRENT TACKLING KNIFE CRIME SERVICE

Working with young offenders

Who do we work with?

• Service is based alongside the Youth Offending team (taking direct referrals from YOT Staff)

• History of weapons related offending, concerns about risk or disclosure of involvement.

• Range of needs and levels of risk

• Key issues-Gangs – involved or affected by-Firearms-Robbery and fear of robbery-Normalisation of violence and weapons.

Approaches

• Key working approach, working intensively on a one to one basis.

• Developing individual tailor made programmes

• Introduction of group work

• Working closely with YOT staff to develop a successful multi-faceted service

• Partnerships with other agencies to create opportunities for young people to address weapons related issues.

• Slotting into the multi-agency structure of statutory agencies in relation to information share and co-working while simultaneously working with other voluntary agencies and retaining independent stance.

Materials – In house

Materials – From other agencies

Impact on behaviour and attitudes

• Chart showing reoffending rates of current caseload. 90% of young people have not reoffended . Of those who did 2 were violence related and one was theft. None involved the use of weapons.

• Retrospectively in the year 2008/09 73% did not reoffend.

Impact on behaviour and attitudes

• Chart to show attitudes to carrying weapons.

• Average at beginning of referral 7.4 Average at completion 8.7

• Supported by qualitative data in relation to young peoples reports of their attitudes.

Impact on behaviour and attitudes

• Chart showing how safe young people feel carrying a weapon makes them at the beginning and end of their order.

• 75% of young people said that they did not feel safer carrying a weapon at the end of their order as opposed to only 41% at the

beginning.

Impact on behaviour and attitudes

• Chart showing percentage of young people who disclosed carrying a weapon since their commencement on the service. 90% said that they had not carried a weapon.

• (Statement of a YP referred to service towards the beginning of their contact– index offence possession of firearms, known involvement in gangs, normalisation of high levels of violence, victim of extreme street violence)

• “I know that shootings are not normal and that it is not right, but it is part of normal life for me and it is something that I have had to adapt to. Shootings and stabbings in my area used to be a big thing but now you just ask who was shot and see if they are ok, then you get on with it. […] When I decided to get a gun I think that I was just jumping on the band wagon, but I don’t want to get into trouble any more. I have got my trial coming up and am trying to concentrate on staying out of trouble until then… take one step at a time.”

Case Study

• Initial assessment of risks and needs

• The law and weapons

• Attitudes towards carrying weapons

• Power, respect and reputation

• The effects of lifestyle choices and how to make changes

• Challenging the notion that violence is normal, acceptable, or that it is necessary to tolerate it.

• Group work on Youth Engagement Scheme Project.

Case Study – Methods of working

Impact

• Observable change in attitude towards violence.

• Recognition of risks of violence and weapons use in lifestyle choices, behaviour and decisions.

• Recognition of the importance of power and respect and generation of methods of gaining these legitimately and safely.

• Generation of alternatives ways of spending time which reduce the risk of further violence and weapons use.

• Decision not to accept violence as a ‘part of everyday life’ and three way conversation with guardian to support this.

• Decision that he would like to be able to speak with other young people at risk about his experiences and steering clear of crime. Contact made with local police to enable this in the future through Catch22.

Lessons for other YOT’s working on similar programmes

• Analysis of young people receiving additional support in relation to weapons indicates that this does have an effect on attitudes and behaviour.

• Different approaches suit different orders.

• Tiered approach to meet demand where this is high.

• Interweaving statutory and voluntary sector working methods and practice can create a stronger intervention.

• Intervention from non-statutory agencies has a positive effect.

• Benefits of difference in perspective and focus of involvement of voluntary agencies.