Dundee Leads Way On Youth Crime

Dundee is beating national targets for reducing youth crime. A report to the city council’s social work committee on Monday highlights youth justice work for 2005-06 and the efforts that are being made to reduce youth crime in the city.

There has been a 27% reduction in persistent offender numbers between 2003/04 to 2005/06 against the Scottish Executive target of 10%. During this period the number of offence referrals also dropped by 10%.

Social work convener Councillor Helen Wright said: “These figures demonstrate our commitment to tackling youth crime in Dundee. There are improved communications with the police and other agencies to help deal with the problem and a number of resources are being used positively to deal with it.

“The efforts that are being made to reduce youth crime are having a positive effect and the ongoing progress is reflected in the first-quarter figures for this year which show a 31% reduction in persistent offender numbers and a 13% drop in overall referral numbers.

“I welcome this downward trend and look forward to continuing success in tackling youth crime.”

The report states that the main types of youth crime in Dundee during 2005/06 were assault, breach of the peace, vandalism and theft. An application for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order for one under-16 was granted and other methods were used to deal with seven other under-16s who had been considered for Asbos.