Troubled communities need investment to turn would-be offenders into budding entrepreneurs instead.

That was the message given to Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling by Mohammed Almas, a co-founder of a new education organisation in Bradford.

Consequences, based at the Carlisle Business Centre in Manningham, visits schools, community centres and youth groups with reformed criminals warning nine to 17-year-olds of the risks of behaving badly.

Mr Almas, who met Mr Grayling at a meeting in Toller Lane, said: “Most bad behaviour is a protest about a system that is on the verge of failing them. They are not trouble-makers, they could be entrepreneurs because of their energy and enthusiasm which just needs tapping into and chanelled into the right direction.”

Mr Grayling said: “There’s nothing more personable than hearing people’s own experiences – where they have gone wrong and how they have put things right.”

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