YOUTH crime in County Durham has fallen by 85 per cent in less than a decade, with the number of child offenders more than halving since 2010.
The figures have been revealed in a report due to be considered by Durham County Council’s cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday, July 13, when councillors will be asked to approve how the County Durham Youth Offending Service (CDYOS) plans to further reduce criminal behaviour.
Cllr Ossie Johnson, cabinet member for children and adult services, said: “CDYOS has a good reputation, and deservedly so, as this partnership between organisations including the council, Durham Constabulary, the National Probation Service, and health services, has helped to dramatically reduce the number of young people committing crimes and coming to the attention of the courts.
“This last year just eight young people received a custodial sentence – that’s over 80 per cent less than five years ago – while since 2007/08 the numbers sentenced or cautioned in the county has fallen by more than four fifths, and reoffending by almost 75 per cent.”
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