Feral youths should be in church care, says chief constable

13 April 2012

Barbara Wilding, the Chief Constable of South Wales Police: She said intervention is needed for youngsters with chaotic home lives

Teenage criminals should be placed in the care of the church, a top woman police officer has said.

South Wales Chief Constable Barbara Wilding said such intervention was 'urgently needed' for youngsters with chaotic home lives, a poor education and a criminal record.

It would protect them from peer pressure and turn them away from 'feral' gang violence.

The former Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner is working with the Church of Wales on a project to place youngsters in long-term residential care.

She said it would provide intensive support over a fairly long term 'with a view to transforming culture, assisting life chances through acquisition of skills and turning them into positive role models'.

But it was an expensive project, and Miss Wilding said: 'Its development is dependent on obtaining funding that would allow us to develop a pilot, the success of which could be evaluated.

'I do however, firmly believe that intervention of this type is urgently needed.'

Miss Wilding described the idea in a speech to the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College, London.

She warned that gangs based on drugs and violence had replaced traditional families for many youths.

The chief constable said: 'There are now clear warning signals from the larger cities in England.

'The divide between affluence and poverty is growing and deprived communities always suffer disproportionately.

'In areas of extreme deprivation there are almost feral groups of very angry young people. Many have experienced family breakdown, and in place of parental and family role models the gang culture is now established.

'Tribal loyalty has replaced family loyalty and gang culture based on violence and drugs is a way of life.'

She warned that this has even made the youngsters a target for terrorist recruiters.

Miss Wilding expressed particular alarm about a 'very hard to reach' group of youngsters 'who have already been written off by many and whose opportunities for life change are undermined by poor education, substance misuse and a criminal record'.

She continued: 'They are people who have often been given chances and who have failed to respond to short-term attempts to help them.

'These are extremely challenging individuals and currently there is very little that fits their needs.

'But we do need to accept the challenge because this is a large and growing group and includes the feeder elements of organised crime and gang groups.'

She urged early intervention for those at risk of going off the rails, describing it as more effective than slapping an Asbo on a teenager.

Miss Wilding's speech, delivered in May but only now made public, matches remarks by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith in the same month.

She also advocated early intervention to target unruly youths. Local authorities, police and magistrates are being urged to use acceptable behaviour contracts, parenting orders and individual support orders to encourage improved behaviour.

Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve said last night: 'The chief constable has correctly identified a real and tragic problem that is destroying lives and communities.

'Twelve years of Labour government have allowed this spiral of decline to spin out of control. This is not just about tougher laws but about addressing the causes of violent crime and gang culture such as drugs and family breakdown.

'There is an urgent need for a change in policy but this Government is in a state of such terminal decay they are sadly incapable of addressing this crucial issue.' 

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