New bid to cut youth re-offending

The money will help young people get better access to information

More than £8m will be spent over the next two years in a bid to reduce youth re-offending in England and Wales, the government has announced.

Justice Minister Claire Ward said the money will be spent on resettlement programmes for young offenders when they leave prison.

Ms Ward said breaking the cycle of offending was key to helping young people and creating safer communities.

The money will be split between a number of different projects.

Ms Ward said: "Youth crime has a devastating effect on all involved, and can also set a young person up for a lifetime of re-offending.

"Breaking this cycle is key to helping put young, vulnerable people back on the right path and making our towns and neighbourhoods safer and better places to live."

'Do better'

Latest figures show that the frequency of youth re-offending has fallen by over 23% and a drop of 10% in the number of young people entering the criminal justice system.

Justice Minister Claire Ward: ''It is a significant investment in these young people''

The announcement means young people would have better access to key services and information, such as how to access education and training or how to successfully apply for a job.

Director of the Prison Reform Trust Juliet Lyon said the "comparatively small" investment was welcome to try and reduce shocking youth re-offending rates.

"But how much better to stop children and young people going to prison in the first place by investing in community solutions like intensive fostering, drug and alcohol treatment, mental healthcare and support for young people with learning disabilities," she said.

"Short jail sentences and overuse of custodial remand make no sense. Imprisonment leaves a lasting mark on the young. Being a former prisoner while still a teenager usually leads to wasted lives, years of misery and public expense. Surely we can do better than this?"