Justice System Failing To Save Hundreds Of Children From Life Of Crime

A generation of vulnerable teenagers is falling into crime after being “failed” by education and social work authorities, according to new research. A study by Edinburgh University found that young people referred to the children’s hearing system in their early teens are three times more likely to have a criminal record by the time they reach 19.

And young people who are excluded from class or leave school at the earliest opportunity are also far more likely to become deeply disaffected adults who commit crime. The research published yesterday, part of a wider study tracking more than 4,000 young people in Edinburgh, has triggered severe criticism of Scotland’s public agencies, which are said to be neglecting the needs of thousands of young people.

Dr Susan McVie, one of the report’s authors, said: “Reductions in convictions could be made by improving the quality of social work services within the children’s hearing system. Social work intervention might consist of no more than meeting once a month for a chat. They are not targeting resources to address [children’s] personal and family issues, whether it be drugs or behavioural issues.”

Since the Caleb Ness case in 2001, which saw authorities in Edinburgh slated for failing to protect a baby killed by his brain-damaged father, social work departments have channelled resources into child-protection, Dr McVie said. She added: “Resources have been [withdrawn] from older kids.

“It is these children who are being failed. Education authorities were also responsible by not providing enough vocational opportunities for young people. There is a significant minority of children being failed by education services.”

Dr Lesley McAra, co-author of the report, said: “This research suggests the risk of criminal conviction could be significantly reduced by devoting more resources to helping teachers tackle problem behaviour and reducing school exclusion.”

More than 4,000 young people who started secondary school in 1998 were tracked until the age of 19, by which time 355 – 9 per cent – had at least one criminal conviction. Some 729 young people had gone through the children’s hearing system.

Of those, 211 – 29 per cent – had a conviction by the end of their teens. Of the 1,140 children interviewed who left school at the earliest opportunity, 23 per cent ended up with a conviction while, of the 489 excluded, 33 per cent were convicted.

Bill McGregor, the general secretary of the Headteachers Association of Scotland, said it was wrong to blame schools for young people turning to crime. “There are three other factors: parents, kids and teachers. If one of these is weak, you are going to get some disaffection. If two are weak, we are on to a loser.”

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said the government was determined to tackle the causes of crime, adding: “Building young people’s self-esteem is central to the approach being taken.”

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, Edinburgh City Council’s convener for education, children and families, said: “We appreciate more work needs to be done to engage with young people at risk of offending.”