To mark Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is highlighting her dedicated problem-solving team who have supported more than 300 young people since launching, with the youngest person helped being just nine years old.
Danielle Stone’s ASB Early Intervention Team was set up six months ago to take demand off policing and offer early intervention when a young person has shown concerning behaviour.
Since then, her Targeted Intervention Officers have been embedded within Neighbourhood Police Teams across the county, working directly alongside officers to identify and address the root causes of crime and vulnerability.
The Commissioner’s team has now worked with 310 children, the youngest child aged only nine years old, as part of Danielle Stone’s mission to protect young people from crime.
When a police officer makes a referral to Danielle’s specialists, it’s their job to step in and provide one-to-one help or tailored family workshops to unpick what’s happening in the young person’s life.
They can provide preventative education around criminal damage, harassment, assault, theft and public nuisance and other themes.
Since January, causing a nuisance in the community has been the top reason a youth worker has needed to intervene with a young person, followed by assault and violence without injury.
Danielle said: “Safer communities and better outcomes for young people are two of the most important responsibilities we share across public service and cannot be delivered by policing alone.
“I’m proud of the impact my Targeted Intervention Officers have made over the last six months to help prevent problems from escalating, reduce demand on emergency services and allowing enforcement to focus where it is most needed.
“The benefits are clear – stronger safeguarding, safer communities and many more positive futures for young people. My Safe and Sound Young People plan will drive forward this work, so more young people receive support before they reach crisis point.”
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The success of the project has seen referral routes expand; with youth workers now embedded within schools identified through police data.
Northampton, Kettering and Wellingborough are the top three locations in the county where referrals have been made by police and teaching staff, with seven secondary schools across the three areas partnering with the team.
For one day a week, young people who have been involved in low-level incidents will be referred for a one-to-one or family session for up to 12 weeks to look at meaningful pathways.
Students are identified by their heads of year or safeguarding leaders in a bid to reduce the risk of permanent exclusion further down the line.
If you’re a teaching professional looking to refer, or a parent wishing to speak with a Senior Practitioner for advice, please email: [email protected]
