§ 20. Mr. John SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the level of youth crime was in the Vale of Glamorgan in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [64766]
§ Mr. DenhamInformation provided by the Vale of Glamorgan Youth Offending Team shows that, in the year 2001, there was a total of 519 recorded offences in its area involving young offenders. Where the age of the offender was known and the case resulted in a reprimand, final warning, referral order or conviction.
§ 36. Fiona MactaggartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to prevent young children committing crimes. [64782]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Government are supporting a wide programme to tackle youth offending, including action to prevent children being drawn into crime in the first place. This includes working with families through the Sure Start initiative, neighbourhoods through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, and education services through reducing exclusions and improving attendance, as well as implementation of the 10 year drugs strategy.
We also support a number of preventative programmes including Youth Inclusion Programmes, Splash Schemes and the Positive Futures programme, which help to steer young people, including those identified as being most at risk, away from crime.
In addition, improvements to the youth justice system, reduced delays, new sentences and programmes, and expanded powers available to the police and courts all help to ensure that we are tackling youth criminality head on.