Nursery World - Early intervention is the watchword of youth inclusion and support panels

Early intervention is the watchword of youth inclusion and support panels newly created in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, to target children aged eight to 13 deemed at high risk of committing crime and nuisance behaviour. The multi-agency panels, which have representatives from social services, the youth offending team, education, health, police, housing and voluntary groups such as Barnado's and NCH, are part of Wakefield's Crime Prevention Service, which is funded by the Children's Fund. The panels will aim to offer positive influences in education, leisure activities and support for parents to help children and young people stay out of trouble. Kitty Ferris, Wakefield's head of children's services, said, 'Intervention at the moment starts when young people are already involved in crime or anti-social behaviour, whereas this system is intended to be along the lines of "prevention is better than cure".'

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