20/05/04 - Intensive supervision to cut youth crime

At 10.30am on Tuesday 25 May, at the Rheged centre, Penrith, Cumbria Youth Offending team launches the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP). The ISSP aims to target persistent young offenders who are responsible for a proportionately high level of crime.   

Government figures show that 3% of young offenders are responsible for 25% of youth crime. The ISSP is a response to this group of young people, providing individual structured timetables for a minimum of 25 hours each week to address their underlying needs. The 6-month ISSP combines intense supervision with the toughest surveillance of any community programme. The programme includes curfews, electronic tagging and two surveillance checks each day. It is offered to the courts as a direct alternative to custody. This new big brother style approach to dealing with persistent young offenders was introduced in Cumbria in October 2003. Councillor John Mallinson, Cabinet spokesman for Care and Social Services says,   

"The Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme is an essential element in Cumbria’s efforts to ensure that we have a safe and productive society. Through targeting the County’s most serious and prolific offenders, we are confident that this approach will reduce the risk of offending. Cumbria Youth Offending Team will work with these young people to enhance their opportunities to become law-abiding citizens. At the same time, through challenging and monitoring young offenders behaviour, we hope to ensure that people will feel protected and re-assured."    

We will be showing a 20 minute film about Cumbria ISSP, made by young people on the scheme and partner organisations. There are speakers from the Youth Justice Board, the Police and other partners. I hope that this event can help to raise awareness of the scheme in Cumbria.