Success in helping young people

TWO out of three young people who are seen by the Carmarthenshire Youth Offending and Prevention Service (YOPS) do not get into further trouble, figures show.

The YOPS works with around 100 to 120 young people, at any given time, who are on court orders and up to a further 20 young people who are at risk of offending or anti-social behaviour.

With approximately 40 staff and 50 volunteers, they offer support to young people, and their families, to help them to reach their full potential – from getting the best out of school or college, finding employment, or other needs such as housing.

A multi-agency partnership, it includes the council’s Education and Children’s Services, Police, Probation Service and Health Board. There are also close links with the youth service, schools and those providing learning, training and supported accommodation for young people.

The service also engages with the victims of young offenders to see if any restorative action can be taken to help reduce the impact of their behaviour.

The work being carried out by YOPS staff across the county is having positive results and figures show that in some cases as many as four out of five young people do not commit any further offences.

Management Board Chair Chris Burns said: “The hard work of staff, which continues in the school holidays, in the evenings and at weekends, is beginning to produce real evidence that young people in Carmarthenshire can be prevented from criminal and anti-social behaviour, they can be kept out of the Youth Justice System and when they have appeared in court most can change their behaviour and will grow up to become valued members of the community.”