YOUNG PEOPLE AS VICTIMS OF CRIME

The impact of being a young victim of crime can be life changing. Confidence in the police and other support services is essential if they are to report the crime. How are young victims currently heard and supported and how might this be improved? Young People as Victims of Crime issues to consider….

Young People as Victims of Crime Approximately 13% of the Wandsworth population is aged Youth victims are under represented in the higher volume crime types of burglary, vehicle theft and all theft. Youth victims are over represented in the areas of robbery (24%), sexual offending (32%) and to a degree, serious assault (15%). Violent offences and robbery account for approximately 60% of young victims of crime. VIOLENCE ROBBERY EA1 : White – North European; EA2 : White – South European; EA3 : Black / Afro-Caribbean; EA4 : Asian; EA5 : Japanese, Chinese or South East Asian; EA6 : Middle Eastern

Young People as Victims of Crime 106 of the 623 (17%) incidents of violence against youth victims were domestic in nature. 84 of the 814 (10.3%) incidents the use or threat of a knife (21 violence and 63 robbery). Serious Youth Violence, defined as any incident of violence or weapon enabled crime against a victim aged 19 or under has risen by 21% over the last 12 months. There were 152 offences between Sep 2012 and Aug 2013 There were 184 offences between Sep 2013 and Aug 2014.

Robbery offences involving youth victims peak very clearly in the afternoon between 1530 and 1730, with offences spread throughout the week and slightly lower on the weekend. Is this an after school issue? Violence also peaks in the afternoon, with a wider spread between 1430 and The (slightly) most common days are Thursday & Friday. Young People as Victims of Crime Location & Time of Offending The highest level of offending against youth victims over the last 12 months was in the wards of Roehampton, Latchmere and Tooting. The largest number of 5-19 year olds are resident in Roehampton (3,200), Furzedown (2,950) and West Hill (2,600). The highest proportion of 5-19 year olds (compared to whole ward population) is also in Roehampton (26.6%), Furzedown (25.8%) and West Hill (20.4%).

5278 stop and searches across the borough of which 1824 (35%) have been on individuals aged The previous 12 months saw 7760 stop and searches, of which 2967 (38%) were on individuals aged % reduction in all stops, 39% reduction in stops on youth subjects. Young People as Victims of Crime Stop and Search – 12 months The number of stops have fallen since February, with an average of 250 per month between June and August 2014 (reduced from 522 per month between August and October 2013). The previous 12 months saw an average of nearly 650 stop and searches per month. The arrest rate of 16.9% is lower than the MPS average of 20.5%. The previous Wandsworth arrest rate was 14.8%.

The impact of being a young victim of crime can be life changing. Confidence in the police and other support services is essential if they are to report the crime. How are young victims currently heard and supported and how might this be improved? Young People as Victims of Crime issues to consider….