A new programme led by Milton Keynes City Council has been launched to prevent young people from falling into a life of crime.
As part of the ‘Focused Deterrence’ prevention programme, dedicated staff will work with young people who have previously carried knives to reduce the likelihood of further offences.
The programme is aimed at young people between 11 and 25 and their families. Help on offer includes access to a social worker, housing advice, referral to mental health services, educational guidance and more. The idea is to remove structural barriers faced by young people which may lead them towards crime, including barriers to education and skills training.
Focused Deterrence is led by Milton Keynes City Council with the support of Thames Valley Police and the Government’s Violent Reduction Unit.
“This is just one of the many ways that we’re tackling violent crime in MK. We need prevention programmes like this that support young people from the outset who often get trapped into a vicious cycle of crime. We’ll be continuing the work we’re doing with our partners to support young people at a moment in their life where we can make a genuine difference to help them make the right choices.”