Crime rates in the UK are high compared to most other EU countries and there is growing concern among the general population about street crime and public safety.

This document examines the Summer Plus programme’s progress with respect to

It also discusses outcomes of the programme on the young people involved from changes in attitudes and behaviours, returning to education and training and the impact on youth crime.

Partnerships were formed in all 12 areas running the programme. Activities targeted young people most at risk of crime and centred around a full programme of summer activities with a key worker assigned to each young person to guide him/her through the programme and into education, training or employment. Poor behaviour was addressed through youth work interventions and the transition back into learning and employment was eased.

The programme as a whole engaged with over 10,000 young people. Developmental approaches which included an explicit educational component had more impact on the young people than approaches which were purely diversionary. By the end of the summer, areas where the programme had run had lower rates of crime than areas where the programme had not run.

The young people participating on the scheme in the sense that it may help them keep away from crime in future. The community also benefits in that burglary, car crime, street crime and robberies are likely to decrease.

The programme ran in 34 local education authorities across England and cost £16 million. In some areas the funding was used to extend existing activities funded by the Youth Justice Board, and in others it was used to start up new projects. Key staff, organisers and key workers were recruited, activities were planned and delivered, and other features such as incentives, transport, entrance fees etc had to be paid for.

Supporting Children and Young People Group, Department for Education and Skills
Phone: +44 870 000 2288
info@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

15/07/2002

01/02/2003

case

Urban Policy > Security & crime prevention > Anti-crime policy

Youth crime