Young people have a 50-50 chance of being a victim of crime, says charity Crime Concern.
Half of all young people will be a victim of crime or aggressive behaviour by the time they reach 16 years old. Research into young people’s experiences of crime shows that they are more worried about being a victim of crime than they are about doing well at school, fitting in with their friends or their future. Norwich Union’s Youth Insight Report captures the views and experiences of more than 500 young people aged between 11 and 16. The report highlights that they are most concerned about today’s knife culture – with one in five admitting to knowing someone under 16 who carries a knife.
The report, written with crime reduction body Crime Concern, shows that although the majority of young people don’t know what the term ‘anti-social behaviour’ means, many have been victims of it. The issues they feel will get worse over the next few years are drug dealing, underage drinking, violence involving knives, terrorism, violent theft attacks and racism. Young people today also take a tough stance when it comes to punishment with two thirds believing their peers are not punished severely enough and three quarters thinking younger people should be sent to prison if they commit a serious offence.
However, the research showed that a young person in trouble is more likely to turn to someone of their own age who can relate to the problems they are experiencing, rather than a parent or another figure in authority. Norwich Union, in partnership with Crime Concern, is launching a Youth Apprentice Scheme to help tackle youth crime at a community level. The scheme employs young people from the local area to train as youth workers in established projects run by Crime Concern. It is hoped the scheme will provide positive role models to help shape young people’s attitudes towards education and crime.
Four apprentices aged between 18 and 24 have recently been appointed to work with younger people in socially deprived areas in Nottingham and Leicester. The apprentices have grown up in the areas and are familiar with the specific difficulties and issues facing young people who are engaged in crime or identified at being most at risk of offending, truancy or social exclusion.
Their brief will be to work with other Crime Concern representatives and young people to help combat some of the frustrations and pressures that can lead to crime. The apprentices will help young people learn new skills, involve them in activities and sports and offer guidance with their education and career.
Dominic Clayden, director of technical claims for Norwich Union Insurance, said: “Our report shows that young people don’t feel current approaches towards crime are working. We think it is essential to actively involve them in the development of new solutions to help tackle crime at a grass roots level.
“We have high expectations for the Youth Apprentice Scheme and anticipate that it could become a model for youth crime prevention that can be rolled out in other cities within the UK.”
Neil Parnell, project manager from Crime Concern, added: “Our experience has shown that one of the most successful ways to reduce youth crime and create safer neighbourhoods is to work with young people from the local area. One of the reasons for this is that young people respond more positively to other young people who understand their community first hand. The Youth Apprentice Scheme builds on this learning and is a fresh and innovative way to tackle the root cause of youth crime.”
