Voices of victims are being heard at last

One area which is rightly at the top of the priority list is addressing the issue of cutting crime committed by and against young people.

At the same time under the Crime and Disorder Act each district in the country had to set up multi-agency Youth Offending Teams as part of a new approach to fighting youth crime. As a result a Youth Justice Plan for the district was devised with national and local

objectives. Great in theory but putting the strategy into practice was another matter.

The revelation today of the work which has already been carried out by YOT and how the agencies and courts are working together bodes extremely well for the future.

The fact that reparation and also action plan orders are been made, with young people being confronted with the consequences of their actions, is a major step

forward to achieving that part of the vision.

Even better news is that at long last the voices of

victims are being heard and acted on. The very fact that the offenders will make an apology, by letter, on video or indeed at a face to face meeting with the victim will work wonders.

There are many more aspects to the Youth Justice Plan which are just as worthy.

The YOT developments were discussed at the Keighley Crime and Community Safety Network Day attended by local community groups. The outcome of the day should see real changes and not be as Keighley Area Panel Chairman David Emmott said just a talking shop.

There is an air of optimism amongst crime-fighters and once again the key to success is people working

together with a common aim.

YOT manager Paul O'Hara rightly reminds us that young people are citizens of the future and their

contribution is critical in achieving the aims of the 2020 Vision. Their job, he says, is to help them live up to their potential. It is the job of the whole community to

support and help the team achieve that aim.