| What
is the Final Warning? |
The Final
Warning was created by the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act as a way of
dealing with offences committed by young people aged 10 and 17, provided
that the offence is not so serious that it needs to go to court. It
was introduced in an effort to encourage young people to take responsibility
for their criminal actions and to keep them from committing further
offences and it replaced the old system of police cautions for young
people. A young person arrested for a further offence within two years
will virtually always go to court.
|
| What
are the Aims of the Final Warning? |
The Final
Warning...
- aims to prevent re-offending by ensuring that the young person
is made aware of the consequences and impact of criminal activity.
- aims to take into account the wishes and feelings of victims
of crime.
- aims to find out the reason for the offence, and do something
about the things in the young person's life, which create a risk
of further offending.
|
| What
will the Young Offender Have to Do? |
Youth
Offending Teams have been set up in every local authority to work
with the Police Officers on Final Warnings to ensure that these aims
are met and to prevent offending by children and young people.
The Final warning is given on the understanding that the Youth Offending
Team will work with the young offender and their parent/guardian to
complete a short programme of intervention.
This will begin with an appointment for the young person and parent
/ guardian to see someone from the Youth Offending Team. This might
be at the YOT office, the family home or at a central location. This
appointment will either be made at the Police station immediately
after the Final Warning has been given, or the Youth Offending Team
will contact the family within 5 working days of the Warning being
given.
It is very important that this appointment is kept! If a problem
should arise to prevent you from keeping the appointment, please contact
the YOT to re-arrange it.
|
|
What Might the Programme of Work Involve? |
Work
on offending:
Brief sessions of Offence and Victim focused work will be carried
out at the YOT office by a member of the team. This is to ensure that
the young person fully understands the purpose of the Final Warning.
Reparation:
May involve the offender meeting his / her victim in person to make
a verbal apology. Alternatively, the young person may be required
to write a letter of apology and / or take part in several hours of
practical activity, which benefit the victims of crime, or the community
as a whole.
|
| What
Do Parents/Guardians Have to Do? |
Parents
/ Guardians should:
- Attend all meetings with the young person.
- Encourage the young person to appreciate fully the consequences
of their offending behaviour.
- Ensure that the young person successfully completes the activities
assigned to him / her.
|
| Further
Information |
Please
contact Lynne Graham at Kirklees Youth Offending Team on: 01484
226263 or lynne.graham@Kirklees.gov.uk
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