Fitting the crime?

Johnson Oredein says young people are easy targets

A report has claimed that the government is too quick to criminalise young people. Johnson Oredein, 27, from south-east London, explains how a minor offence almost 10 years ago continues to affect his life.

In 1999 I received a police caution for what was basically a school bus fight.

Because I have chosen to become a health care professional, that caution will now go on every application form I ever fill in.

I'm sorry for what I did a decade ago, but I think the effects of that punishment have been out of proportion to the crime.

Ticking-off

What happened was this. I was on the bus when a boy from another school hit me twice across the face.

After warning him to get away from me, I hit him back.

The police were called and I ended up at the station. The sergeant told me I had a choice - I could go to court, or get a caution, which he said was basically a ticking-off.

What I did was not right. Violence is never the answer

However, that didn't prove to be the case.

When I left school I decided I wanted to work in occupational therapy so I could help people who were disadvantaged.

Now, for most jobs that involve working with people, you need to declare whether you have ever had a police caution.

When I applied for a course at university I was required to tell the head of admissions, who had to take it into account.

When I completed my degree, I had to apply to join the Health Professionals Council before I could work. Because of the caution, my case was referred to their Fitness to Practice panel.

When I applied for work, the process was the same. I got the job, but I will always have to tick that box and provide details of the offence on every application.

It's always going to raise doubts in my mind. If I were an employer, it would make me think twice about hiring someone.

When you have a criminal conviction from an early age, your choices are cut down.

Easiest targets

The fight was out of character. I wasn't the best-behaved boy at school, but they made me assistant college captain, so I must have been ok.

For me, a ticking-off would have done the job.

The government isn't tackling the reasons why young people offend in the first place Government 'criminalising youth'

If the police officer had sat me down and told me to write a letter of apology, then I'm sure that would have stopped me doing anything similar again.

I definitely believe that young people are criminalised in this country. They're always going to be the easiest targets for the police to go after.

But the government don't tackle the causes of youth crime - lack of leisure facilities, lack of opportunities for work.

A new way of dealing with youth crime should be sought by the government as most of the youths involved are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Criminalising can then further reduce their life opportunities, by marginalising them and reinforcing the negative perceptions they may already have towards society.

It's frustrating. But I hope any young people reading this will see that if you get a caution, it's not the end of the road - if you work hard you can still get a professional job.