Early intervention can help stop repeat offences

Ministers say the results, attributed to the introduction of reprimands and final warnings, illustrate the effectiveness of intervening early to prevent crime.

The figures show that a quarter of 10 to 17 year olds convicted in the first three months of 2001 committed further offences within a year.

The Home Office says this represents a fall in the re-conviction rate of 22.5%, compared to 1997.

Home Office Minister Hilary Benn said: "These statistics show how early intervention can really help prevent repeat offending behaviour.

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"The reprimand and final warning scheme is a good example of this and I would like to thank the Youth Offending Teams, the Youth Justice Board and other services for their work with these young people, who without their intervention would certainly have gone on to commit more crimes."

Final Warnings were first introduced on 1 June 2000 and are issued to juveniles who have committed their second medium or low level offence.

Final warning

They replace the system of repeat cautioning of young offenders.

Under the new arrangement, a juvenile receives a reprimand and then a final warning; after that a further offence leads to a criminal charge.

By tackling the causes of their behaviour at the final warning stage there is a much improved chance of nipping offending in the bud Chris Stanley, crime reduction charity Nacro

Repeat offenders are also ordered to take part in programmes to tackle their behaviour, like drug rehabilitation schemes and anger management classes

Chris Stanley, head of the youth crime section at crime reduction charity, Nacro, said reprimands and finals warnings had a crucial role to play in steering children away from crime.

He said: "By tackling the causes of their behaviour at the final warning stage there is a much improved chance of nipping offending in the bud.

"Interventions have a role as part of a broader package of social interventions and, as such, are to be welcomed."