Fewer first-time offenders

FEWER Oldham children are falling foul of the law.

In 2007-08 there were 432 first-time offenders aged 10 to 17 given a reprimand, warning or sentence in a criminal court.

In the previous 12 months the figure was 491.

Nationally, the number of offenders aged 10 to 17 in England going into the criminal justice system fell from 103,955 in 2006-07, to 93,601 in 2007-08.

The Government wants to reduce the number of first-time entrants aged 10-17 to the criminal justice system by a fifth by 2020.

Chief Insp Sarah Jones said: “We work closely with our partners to try and reduce the number of young people entering the criminal justice system.

“By identifying those most at risk, we utilise measures such as education to try to prevent them becoming involved in criminal activity.”

In 2004-05 there were 538 problem children coming through the system for the first time, and numbers have continued to fall since then.

Tim Mitchell, chief executive of Positive Steps Oldham, said: “By working with a number of partners, such as Sports Development and the churches, we engage young people in positive activity with the aim of preventing them becoming involved in crime.

“Over the past two years we have reduced the number of young people entering the criminal justice system for the first time by a quarter.”

Justice Minister David Hanson said: “The Government’s youth crime prevention work is beginning to have a positive impact, as these figures show. The downward trend is significant.”