Crime prevention initiative set for expansion

The London-based Divert programme is run by the Milestone Foundation in collaboration with the Metropolitan police.

Following positive evaluation from a pilot in Brixton and grants totalling £75,000, the programme is to be expanded into Tower Hamlets.

Of the 116 young people that took part in the Brixton pilot, 38 are in employment and 76 are undertaking training or an apprenticeship.

Taking into account the £65,000 cost to imprison an offender, the Milestone Foundation estimates that the Brixton pilot has saved the taxpayer £11.23m.

The scheme works by deploying an adviser to visit young offenders taken into police custody. This initial visit gauges their interest in the programme and then helps to signpost specific support. This includes help finding work, tackling drug addiction as well as housing issues.

Also included in the programme is mentoring and one-to-one support, as well as advising courts on changes made by the young offender to improve their lives.

"We are delighted to announce we have received two substantial donations to help fund our groundbreaking Divert programme, which helps young offenders transform their lives by diverting them from reoffending and into employment," the Milestone Foundation said in a statement.

"These donors include the Worshipful Company of Weavers (£15,000) and the Aldgate and Allhallows Foundation (£60,000). This funding has allowed us to expand the programme further, and we now provide the service in both Brixton and Tower Hamlets."

Earlier this month the government revealed that it is to review the use of custody for under-18s in London.

The review is being carried out by the Ministry of Justice, London Councils and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime. It will look at the use of both police custody and the youth secure estate for under-18s across the capital.