MP listens to experts on youth crime

10.29.35am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 30th Jul 2007

David Howarth, MP for Cambridge, has met with staff from the Youth Offending Service to discuss how youth offending in Cambridge can be reduced.

Mr Howarth, whose new role as Shadow Solicitor General will see him speaking for the Liberal Democrats in Parliament on criminal justice legislation, met with the Head of Cambridgeshire's Youth Offending Service as well as staff dealing with substance misuse, providing accommodation for young offenders. He commented:

"It is clear that substance misuse, especially alcohol, is a serious and growing problem for many young people and is a major challenge for those working to reduce offending in young people.

"Here in Cambridgeshire we are one of only a few places in the UK which use a therapy to involving family, the community, friends and schools to promote the behavioural change needed. This type of therapy has proved very successful and I hope that other areas will learn from the work going on in Cambridge.

"Politicians need to listen to the people at the front line dealing with youth offending, like the staff I met today, and those at the forefront of research. We must look at the evidence and concentrate on what works.

David Howarth MP

"However we also have a responsibility to provide the support and services that young people need to escape destructive lifestyles and leave offending behind. The Foyer project in Cambridge is an excellent facility providing much needed accommodation for these young people but we need more projects like this. Too many young people are left with nowhere to live and without the support they need."