Letter: Once in a generation opportunity to prevent a lifetime of crisis and crime
Last year alone over 50,000 cautions or convictions were handed to 18-25-year olds, for low-level and non-violent crimes, like theft. In later life these minor offences dominate the criminal record of adults, people who repeatedly offend now accounts for nearly 40% of all offenders.
Behind these numbers lies misery, a revolving door of crisis and crime that destroys lives, families and communities. These offences are driven by persistent poverty and profound trauma, but they are preventable. A smarter criminal justice system would intervene earlier, giving our young adults hope of a good life.
The preventative measures taken by police and Youth Offending Teams have shown what is possible, reducing the number of children entering the criminal justice system to the lowest levels on record. We can do the same for our young adults. We have a once in a generation opportunity to prevent the cycle of crisis and crime.
That is why our strong coalition, led by Revolving Doors Agency and our Patron Lord Patel of Bradford, are committing to action that prevents young adults from being pulled into the cycle of crime and crisis and diverting them away, into a better life. Our coalition brings together Police and Crime Commissioners from across the political spectrum, police leads for young people, charities and academics, all committed to change.
- Nathan Dick, Head of Policy, Revolving Doors Agency
- Lord Patel, the Patron of Revolving Doors Agency
- Chief Constable Jo Shiner, NPCC Lead for Children and Young People
- Deputy Chief Constable Sara Glen, former NPCC Lead for Children and Young People
- John Smith, Deputy PCC for Avon and Somerset
- Kathryn Holloway, PCC for Bedfordshire
- Barry Coppinger, PCC for Cleveland
- Hardyal Dhindsa, PCC for Derbyshire
- Martin Surl, PCC for Gloucestershire
- Jeff Cuthbert, PCC for Gwent
- Keith Hunter, PCC for Humberside
- Lord William Bach, PCC for Leicestershire
- Arfon Jones, PCC for North Wales
- Paddy Tipping, PCC for Nottinghamshire
- David Munro, PCC for Surrey
- David Jamieson, PCC for West Midlands
- Mark Burns Williamson, PCC for West Yorkshire
- Joyce Moseley, Chair of Transition to Adulthood Alliance
- Caroline Mason, Chief Executive, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
- Duncan Shrubsole, Criminal Justice Lead for Lloyds Bank Foundation
- Myron Rogers, Chair of Lankelly Chase Foundation
- Alice Dawnay, Founder & Chief Executive, Switchback
- Anne Fox, Chief Executive Officer, Clinks
- Christopher Stacey, Co-director, Unlock – for people with convictions
- Darren Murinas, Chief Executive, Expert Citizens
- Emma Wells, National Secretary, Community Chaplaincy
- Helen Schofield, Acting Chief Executive, Probation Institute
- Imtiaz Amin, Co-director, Zahid Mubarek Trust
- Jessica Southgate, Chief Executive, Agenda
- Jo Anne Welsh, Chief Executive, Brighton Oasis Project
- Kate Beech, Chief Executive, TACMAC
- Kirsty Kitchen, Head of Policy and Communications, Birth Companions
- Loraine Gelsthorpe, Director, Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge
- Natasha Finlayson, Chief Executive, Working Chance
- Oliver Standing, Director, Collective Voice
- Paul Parker, Recording Clerk, Quakers in Britain
- Peter Dawson, Director, Prison Reform Trust
- Rose Dowling, Chief Executive, Leaders Unlocked
- Siobhan Pollitt, Chief Executive, Back on Track Manchester
- Vicki Cardwell, Chief Executive, Spark Inside
- Professor Lorraine Gelsthorpe, Director, Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge
- Professor Kieran McCartan
- Professor Huw Williams
- Professor Ben Crewe
- Professor Jane Millar
A copy of this letter has been published on the Telegraph on 21 August 2020.
