A NEW multi-agency initiative aimed at preventing and deterring young people from becoming involved in the criminal justice system has had its Derry City & Strabane District launch.
‘Prevent and Deter’ is part of a three-strand approach to crime called the Reducing Offending through Partnership Programme that has been developed and implemented by the Reducing Offending Unit.
The initiative identifies young people who have come into the criminal justice system and who were at risk of becoming increasingly involved in criminality.
Through agreed collaborative work involving the individuals, their families and the partners in the Prevent and Deter group, the aim is to assist them to break the cycle of crime.
Pilot schemes in other parts of the North of Ireland have proved valuable in reducing future offending among those who take part.
The partner agencies are: Police Service of Northern Ireland; Youth Justice Agency(YJA) ; Probation Board for Northern Ireland; Social Services and the Education Authority.
Local community groups were today briefed on how the scheme will work.
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