Praise for youth service (From Thurrock Gazette)

Praise for youth service

10:20am Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News

CONSERVATIVE councillor James Halden has praised Thurrock’s youth offending service.

The Homesteads councillor, the Tory group’s spokesman for education, visited the service at its base in Quarry Hill, Grays.

Cllr Halden said: “The team at the youth offending service is doing a remarkable job.

“Not only are they ensuring those who commit offences are made to make reparations via the community payback scheme, but they are also doing a great job ensuring that young people who make mistakes today don’t slide down a slippery slope and become the criminals of tomorrow.

“With the council gaining new responsibilities for youth justice, I am delighted to lead local Conservatives in discussions about how we can support the youth offending service, not only in this year’s budget, but also as we shape a new relationship with the police authority from November.”

Cllr Halden believes a well-run youth offending service can actually save the council money.

He said: “If we don’t change the way we do business, in a few years, child and adult social care will be all we can afford as a council.

“Our extremely well-run Youth Offending Service provides us with an opportunity to avoid larger costs, both to our budget and to society, by preventing young people being indoctrinated in a criminal lifestyle.”