The schemes may involve interventions such as counselling and help finding work or have a focus on restorative justice and can reduce reoffending rates by 13 per cent, according to research by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF).
But despite these promising results the schemes are not widely used by police.
Just one in 10 teenagers who had committed a violent crime say they were offered support or training to prevent them re-offending, YEF found.
In addition, the use of diversion schemes is based on “variations in local funding” and whether police and youth justice workers locally have access to latest research around the benefits.
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
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
