‘Crossroads’ for pupils in crime fight
POLICE: Police officers drafted in to cut of knife crime in South Yorkshire have warned that many young people face a “crossroads in their lives”, as they attempt to divert them away from offending.
Figures show the number of crimes at schools in Sheffield fell in the last year, from 612 offences in 2017 to 527 in 2018.
POLICE OFFICERS drafted in to cut worrying levels of knife crime in South Yorkshire have warned that many young people face a “crossroads in their lives”, as they attempt to intervene and divert them away from offending.
Latest figures show that number of crimes committed at schools in Sheffield fell in the last year, from 612 offences in 2017 to 527 in 2018.
However, officers have continued to stress the importance of playing an active role and intervening to cut overall crime levels in schools, after a joint approach by teachers and police was launched in the city in an effort to educate youngsters.
It follows growing concerns raised last year about a knife crime culture in Sheffield, after the number of reported stabbings in the city carried out by people of all ages had reached 23 by August last year.
Politicians spoke out over the issue, including Gill Furniss, the MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, who warned that knife crime was “tearing families and communities apart” and called on community leaders and police to work together.
According to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, of the 527 crimes at schools that South Yorkshire Police recorded in 2018, more than a quarter of investigations – 138 – ended with no suspect being identified, 10 suspects were charged and 109 were dealt with by partner agencies.
PC Mark Toyne, a schools officer with the force, said a specialist “out-of-court disposal panel” was set up about one year ago, to the educate youngsters on the dangers of getting involved in crime. The number of offences of possession of a bladed article recorded also fell – down from 55 in 2017 to 30 last year.
PC Toyne said: “The panel is made up of people from the youth justice team, community justice team and police officers. They sit every Wednesday and they look at the history of the child and try and finalise the matter outside of court so we are not criminalising young people.
“For possessing a knife, the minimum punishment is a criminal caution and, if the officers then deem it suitable, they would then look at working closely with the youth justice programme to try and educate that young person around knife crime.
“It’s a multi-agency approach and it’s for any crimes involving young people because what we don’t want is to criminalise young people and affect their future.”
PC Toyne, a police officer in the city for 15 years, described the process as an “MOT” for youngsters, who were sometimes at a “crossroads” in their lives.
He said: “When you join the police you want to make a difference and in certain parts of the job, that’s harder to do. Being a parent myself, I feel as though I am dealing with children who are at a real crossroads and by having a positive impact, it can make a difference.”
He added: “It’s definitely more effective than having them in court because they have not been criminalised, as such. They will get a caution but as long as they comply with the requirements of it, they will not get a record. What it also does is let them know the reason. It’s like telling a toddler off at home – if you don’t explain the reasons they will never know what they’ve done is wrong.”
The latest figures cover offences in a school location and not all may have taken place inside the school or involved pupils or staff.
By having a positive impact, it can make a difference.
PC Mark Toyne, South Yorkshire Police.