§ 52. Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he proposes to take to combat teenage crime.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Government have a comprehensive strategy for tackling all forms of crime of which measures to reduce offending by young people are an important part. The police, courts, probation and prison services all have a contribution to make; so have local authorities, social services, schools and voluntary organisations together with parents and responsible citizens. Most counties and large towns now have specific projects aimed at reducing crime, usually with teenage crime as one of the main targets and typically involving co-operation between the relevant services and agencies. The Staffordshire police activity and community enterprise run by the Staffordshire police in my hon. Friend's constituency is one example. These projects are constantly being developed with the Government's encouragement and in many instances financial support. The standing conference on crime prevention will later this month receive reports from working groups which have been examining various aspects of teenage crime; and the national crime prevention organisation, about which we hope to make an announcement before the end of the year, will no doubt make this one of its first priorities.