Calls for more youth funding amid ‘extremely concerning’ levels of violence

Councillors say we are now seeing the impact of previous cuts

By Natalie Bloomer

Councillors from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called on West Northamptonshire Council to increase funding to tackle youth violence in the area.

As reported by NN Journal last week, a new report from the Youth Offending Service shows that the number of young people involved in crime increased by almost a fifth in the year to March with 3,200 young people involved in almost 6,000 offences either as a suspect or offender in the county that year.

At a West Northamptonshire Council cabinet meeting last night a Youth Justice Plan was discussed which included aims to cut reoffending rates and reduce the use of custody.