05 February 2013
New figures released by the Minister for Home Affairs show a dramatic fall in the number of cases dealt with by Jersey’s Youth Court in 2012.
Home Affairs Minister, Senator Ian Le Marquand, said “The reduction in youth crime continued throughout 2012. The fall in the number of cases presented to the Youth Court in 2012 was particularly striking."
| |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
| Cases |
327 |
344 |
253 |
179 |
71 |
Senator Le Marquand continued “I was surprised by the 2011 figure, and am very pleasantly surprised by the 2012 figure. It may be unlikely that this will be maintained but, in my view, any figure below 150 represents remarkable progress, and I’d like to thank everyone involved in helping to achieve this.”
Comparable figures are also available for offences committed by under 18s and for under 18s on criminal charges in the Young Offenders Institution at the Prison and in Greenfields Remand Centre.
Young Offenders Institution
| |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
Number of admissions |
23 |
20 |
41 |
18 |
6 |
Greenfields (criminal charge related)
| |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
| Number of young people on remand |
Figures not available |
26 |
20 |
9 |
4 |
Number of offences detected
| |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
| Offences detected |
Figure not available |
664 |
522 |
343 |
211 |
Senator Le Marquand added “These figures show a very welcome drop in youth crime. There has been a significant shift in the recent pattern of youth crime, and this continues to be very good news.
“I cannot tell precisely what has caused this, although my department is currently working on this. On behalf of the Children’s Policy Group, of which I am a member, along with the Ministers for Health and Social Services, and Education Sport and Culture, it is encouraging to see such results.
“There has been an increasing emphasis over the last decade in early intervention strategies, such as the Crime and Community Safety Strategy and Substance Misuse Strategy. Since 2003, the amount and standards of work with young people, including young offenders, have greatly improved with the support of many agencies."
These agencies include:
- the Education Service (PSHE)
- the Children’s Service
- the Youth Service
- the Probation Service
- the children’s homes
- the States of Jersey Police
- the Honorary Police
- the Community Support Team
- specialists working in secondary schools
- Building a Safer Society, including 'Prison! Me! No Way!!', football with the Community and School Sport Development Team and outreach workers
- the motocross project
- Greenfields
- the Young Offenders Institution
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