The South Ayrshire Youth Justice Strategic Plan was officially launched by Councillor Cherry Young, the Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Social Justice Committee, at a ceremony within the John Pollock Centre in Ayr.

Although overall levels of youth crime in South Ayrshire are lower than elsewhere in Ayrshire and other parts of the West of Scotland communities in South Ayrshire still suffer the effects of youth crime.  The Plan sets out a strategy to deal with young people who are the most persistent offenders and puts in place services aimed at reducing their offending.

Councillor Cherry Young said:  “South Ayrshire Council has been working hard with our partners to achieve the national target of a 10% reduction in persistent offending which was set by the Scottish Government for all councils.  The report on whether we have achieved this is not out until July but we believe our performance has exceeded the target”.

“The Plan is a structure for the future, which aims to address youth crime in South Ayrshire.  An extensive Plan, it clearly shows how a wide range of agencies such as the Police, the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration Agency, the Fiscal Service and voluntary organisations, who all interact with children, can work in close harness with the Council to improve the lives of young people and of communities in South Ayrshire.

“It is vital that people remember that the majority of young people do not behave   antisocially, however, those that do can make other peoples lives a misery.  I believe that we all have a responsibility to help young people achieve their full potential and encourage them to become responsible active citizens within their local community.”

Children who carry out antisocial acts often have special problems with personal and/or social circumstances. These problems can be temporary, but whatever the circumstances, with extra support from social workers or other children’s organisations they can turn their lives around.

A small number of young people keep offending and become persistent young offenders.  As a result of agencies working together to help them stop offending less than 30 children now come into this category in South Ayrshire.

This has been achieved by tacking:

• Antisocial attitudes.
• Victim empathy.
• Self esteem.
• Substance abuse
• Education problems.
• Appropriate use of leisure time.
• Relationships.
• Personal issues.

The Youth Justice Strategic Plan details a range of actions already being taken, and actions which are planned for the future.

Anyone who would like to read the Plan should log on to the Council’s website at WWW.CHYPS.CO.UK or alternatively pick up a copy from Holmston House, 3 Holmston Road, Ayr, KA7 3BA or at the Social Work Office, 181 Whitletts Road, Whitletts, Ayr.

June 2006