‘Tough love’ plan announced to tackle youth crime

At the Labour political party conference ministers unveiled plans to introduce a national ‘tough love’ scheme to tackle knife amongst young people.

Yvette Cooper, labour’s shadow home secretary, announced Young Futures – a new cross-government plan ‘aimed at giving Britain’s young people the best start in life’. The programme will play a vital role in Labour’s mission to halve knife crime and youth violence within the next 10 years.

Whilst announcing the new programme Ms Cooper argued that the current government teenagers have become ‘neglected’ as they have been ‘pushed from pillar to post’ between local authorities, mental health services and police.

Against this backdrop, Labour plan to unite services through a national network of Young Futures hubs, with targeted programmes in every area to identify those most at risk of being influenced by violent crime.

Youth workers will be placed in A&E units, custody centres and pupil referral units – communities and resources will also be made available so that existing law enforcement measures can be better used to prevent crime.

Ms Cooper said: ‘We need urgent interventions to stop young people getting drawn into crime or exploitation in the first place.

‘For too long, teenagers have been pushed from pillar to post between local authorities, mental health services, the police and youth offending teams.

‘That’s why we are setting up a cross-government ‘tough love’ initiative, with new youth hubs and proper local plans to identify those most at risk and help them access the support they need.’

Image: Stormseeker

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