Funding will divert children from crime
HOME OFFICE funding to divert young people from crime in South Yorkshire will allow for a greater focus on work to prevent problems, says a senior councillor.
Two successful bids were made through the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, and the announcement of almost £1.25m to be spent over two years outstrips the sum awarded to neighbouring West Yorkshire.
The Sheffield project will make the money available for the Sheffield Futures organisation to develop and implement a comprehensive answer to the city’s increasing problems with violence, including knife crime.
According to the Home Office, the scheme will function by “providing credible information to young people from young people”.
It is envisaged it will involve sessions in school to raise awareness among pupils in year seven of the dangers surrounding violent crime and the exploitation of children by criminals.
The sessions will explore the consequences of getting involved in gangs and the effect of gun and knife crime on both individuals and communities.
Coun Jim Steinke, Sheffield Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said the funding would allow for a greater focus on work to prevent problems, rather than “one or two sessions” for year seven children. It removes the financial barriers which could have provided obstacles for individual schools.
The second project is a joint enterprise involving Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley and will involve setting up what the Home Office calls “a sub-regional child criminal exploitation response”.
That will involve drawing up a strategy with intervention methods, with a hub that identifies those at risk and provides support.