§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of crime of the summer 2002 Splash programme; and what plans he has to develop the programme further. [114207]
§ Paul GogginsIn summer 2002, around 370 Splash and Splash Extra schemes were run in high crime areas, enabling over 90,000 young people to take part in a wide range of activities. The schemes contributed to an overall reduction in local crime rates of 5.2 per cent. between July and September 2002, with reductions of up to 31 per cent. in street crime and robbery in some areas.
100WBuilding on the success of these schemes, the Government will this year be launching a new single programme of positive activities for young people to provide year round out of school activities for eight to 19-year-olds. The new programme will absorb the Splash and Splash Extra schemes, and will deliver activities to more young people, providing support for those most at risk. The new programme will mean less bureaucracy for local areas, allowing them to focus on delivering good quality programmes to young people at risk of crime and social exclusion.