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ippr report reveals regrettable increase in prosecutions of children
Commenting on today’s report from the Institute for Public Policy Research, which shows a sharp increase in the number of young offenders dealt with by the criminal justice system, Paul Cavadino, Chief Executive of Nacro, the crime reduction charity, said:
"These figures do not reflect a sharp increase in youth crime. Instead they reflect a regrettable increase in the use of the criminal justice system for minor offences.
"Government targets to increase the number of offences brought to justice have increased the prosecution of young people in cases where informal warnings would make more sense."
He backed the call for more young offenders to be dealt with by community panels instead of prosecution and said:
"Community panels would be more effective than prosecution in diverting minor offenders from further crimes. They would also avoid unnecessarily giving children a criminal record. This approach can have a salutary effect on young people by bringing home the impact of their behaviour on victims. This can be a highly effective way of changing young people’s behaviour and preventing another victim."
ENDS
Contact: Sally Burnell on 020 7840 7216 or 07974 189979
youth crime, ippr, community panels, Paul Cavadino
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