Invitation To Be Involved In Youth Justice

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is seeking to recruit members of the public to sit on youth offender panels.

Since 2002 the panels have pioneered an entirely new way of dealing with young offenders aged from 10 to 17 years. They include members of the community who work with the multi-agency Youth Offending Service which co-ordinates the scheme.

The panels look at the causes of the offending with the offender and their family and decide a programme of activity aimed at tackling the behaviour and reducing the risk of re-offending.

Local people are needed to take on a key role in helping to reduce the risk of young people re-offending and help them to put right the harm they have done.

The council is keen to hear from people in all areas of the East Riding who would like to be involved, particularly in the age group 18 to 35, but all applications will be considered.

No formal qualifications are necessary as full training will be provided. The posts are unpaid but all expenses will be reimbursed.

Initial training for panel membership will be over seven consecutive Saturdays from 10th October.
Paul Green, intervention team manager, said:

“It is important that the community members of the panels are representative of the whole community. We are seeking men and women aged 18 years and above to help tackle youth crime in our towns and villages.

“East Riding residents aged 18 or over, from every ethnic and social background, who would like to do something positive about crime in our community, can apply to be a panel member.”

Application forms and more information can be obtained from the Youth Offending Service on 01482 396623 or email Youth.Offending.Team@eastriding.gcxs.gov.uk