Stephen Metcalfe, MP for
South Basildon and East Thurrock, has championed the work of the local Youth
Offending Service after visiting their new centre last week.
Local Councillor,
James Halden, joined Mr Metcalfe to show their support for the Service which
has recently moved into the old Corringham Police Station.
The Youth Offending Service
is part of the local council and run separately from the police and the courts.
They aim to prevent offending and stop reoffending by working with each young
person to help them steer clear of criminality.
They also run local crime
prevention programmes, help young people at police stations if they are
arrested or in court, supervise young people serving a community sentence, and
stay in touch with young people if they receive a custodial sentence.
Mr Metcalfe commented: “The
Youth Offending Service do fantastic work here in Corringham and up and down
country. They offer young people a lifeline and have been very successful if
both crime prevention and in cutting reoffending. I would like to thank all
those involved for their continued hard work in making this possible.”
The local MP has recently
raised the national issue of young offenders with the Government, asking what
plans they have to ensure that young offenders leave custody better equipped to
avoid a life of crime.
He has been informed by the
Ministry of Justice that the Government will be introducing a new pathfinder
Secure College in 2017 which will equip young offenders with the skills and
qualifications they need to live a life free of crime. The Government are also
enhancing education provision in Young Offender Institutions and taking steps
to improve the resettlement of young people upon release.
Mr Metcalfe added: “I am
delighted that the Government are taking the necessary measures to cut
reoffending among young people nationally as well as locally. Education and
training are vital to this and I look forward to seeing youth offending and
reoffending fall in the coming years as a result of these measures.”
