Young People

Download the Wessex Youth Justice Plan

In the next 3 years we will also aim to:

  • Improve our response to young offenders and young victims of crime
  • More support for school children, especially those at risk of offending
  • Roll out the ‘Prevent & Deter’ strand of the Prolific & Other Priority Offenders (PPO) scheme

Young People as offenders and victims of crime


The introduction of the multi-agency Youth Offending Team and a number of other initiatives has seen a steady reduction in the number of young people who have committed at least one offence.  In 1999/2000, there were 713 young offenders in the city (4% of the youth population), in 2002/3 there were 582 young offenders. 

The Safer Portsmouth Partnership is committed to continuing this reduction in offending.  Successful initiatives include:

  • Children and Young Persons Strategic Partnership
  • Connexions
  • LEA Special Projects Team
  • Motiv8
  • Positive Futures sports project
  • Preventing Youth Offending Project (Portsmouth City Council)
  • The Children’s Trust
  • The Wessex Youth Offending Team
  • Young Fire Setters Intervention Scheme
  • Youth Service