CYP Now - Blogs (3)

"The New Year has brought heightened focus on reversing the growing number of 10- to 17-year-olds who reoffend. While first-time offender rates continue to fall, recidivism in this age group climbed to 35.9 per cent in 2011. The government's plan to build a secure college in Leicestershire for young offenders has sparked much media attention. It is designed to help ensure this vulnerable group gains qualifications and skills that will improve their chances of finding work and prevent them from returning to past patterns of criminal behaviour. Many will be keen to see how effective this approach proves to be in bringing reoffending rates down."

Phil Neal on youth offending

"Did you see Benefits Street? You know, that bit where that fat bloke nobody likes accused his ex-partner of taking drugs in front of her child and told the world she'd cheated on her previous husband while he was dying of cancer. Silly me. That wasn't Benefits Street. It wasn't a TV expose of the lives of the emotionally disturbed underclass. It was an insight into the unpleasant lives of the emotionally disturbed overclass, revealed when Charles Saatchi and Nigella Lawson gave evidence in court and argued about it afterwards. So what's the difference? The main difference is that those living in poverty tend to be nicer people, more trusting and open."

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included