The proposed cards will offer discounts on activities from a range ofaccredited providers and could be topped up with credits - by youngpeople, their parents or local authorities. The cards could also be usedto discourage poor behaviour as access may be withheld or suspended aspunishment for anti-social activity.
The Government's desire to put choice in the hands of young people isadmirable. However, the benefits may be limited if there is little foryoung people to buy with the cards, meaning there would be less chanceof changing behaviour or discouraging young people from getting involvedin crime. With one in four teens saying they have nothing to do afterschool and more than 80 per cent claiming boredom at least some of thetime, there is a clear need to focus investment on developing newactivities and supporting existing good practice as the coreintervention to prevent involvement in crime.
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