REDBRIDGE: Police want victims to 'engage' with young criminals

8:35am Thursday 15th May 2008

POLICE in Redbridge have called on victims of crime to talk to the teenage offenders responsible.

Officers from the borough's Youth Offending Team (YOT), made the plea after figures showed young criminals were far less likely to reoffend after meeting with their victims.

Only a fraction of people who report crimes committed by teenagers currently take part in the Restorative Justice Scheme.

The idea, which was first developed in Australia, aims to show youngsters the impact of their crime, by bringing them together with the people affected.

PC Wendy Herridge, who helps run the programme in Redbridge, says the results speak for themselves.

She said: "All the evidence points to the fact that this is a really effective programme.

"We arrange a conference between the victim and the young offender and their family in group conferences.

"The young people involved are much less likely to reoffend, and the victims get a unique chance to have their say.

"Most of the victims of youth crime refuse to take part in this scheme, which is a great shame.

"We would love to get more people involved."

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