Croydon Youth Offending Team

An introduction to:

The Croydon Youth Offending Team

What is a Youth Offending Team (YOT)?

Youth Offending Teams exist in all areas and were fully established in April 2000 by the Youth Justice Board. These teams were introduced to improve performance in tackling offending by children and young people aged 10-- 17.

Youth Offending Teams consist of representatives from Social Services, Probation, the Police, Health, Education and other local organisations. This multi-agency approach is designed to address the ‘risk’ factors associated with offending and to meet the holistic needs of young people.

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National Standards

National Standards are guidelines issued by the Youth Justice Board, which sets out a Framework for the supervision of offenders in the community and for those serving custodial sentences and after release. National Standards place a greater emphasis on Youth Offending Teams to provide an effective service and develop public confidence by the rehabilitation of offenders.

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Croydon Youth Offending Team

Provides services in the Local Community. The Team works with young people 10 – 17 years old, who are involved in criminal behaviour, and with their families / carers. We are based at 14 Whitehorse Road, Croydon and all members of the team work together to achieve the objectives of the YOT both before and after Court appearances.

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Aims and Objectives of the Youth Offending Team

Work in partnership with other agencies to reduce youth crime.
Ensure that each young person who breaks the law is dealt with without delay, whilst meeting the individuals holistic needs
Working with young people to address the particular issues that put the young person at risk of offending.
Encourage consultation with young people about the service they receive and ensure that our service reflects and values equality, diversity and is fair to all.
Confront young offenders with the consequences of their behaviour in relation to themselves, their family / carer(s), the victim and the community, to develop a sense of personal responsibility.
Encourage young people to provide reparation to victims.
Reinforce the responsibility of parents to help them prevent offending by their children.
Protection of the public.

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Services to Croydon Youth Court including:

Attendance and provision of a duty service on Youth Court Sentencing days
Writing Pre-Sentence and other Court reports
Parenting Order Assessments
Management of Referral Orders and writing Youth Offender Panel Reports
Supervision of Community based Court Orders and provision of progress reports
Supervision of young people subject to Custodial Sentences

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Court Reports

Before a young person is sentenced, the Court will usually ask that a Youth Offending Team Officer prepare a Pre-Sentence Report [PSR] or Specific Sentence Report [SSR]. This report sets out the circumstances surrounding the commission of the offence(s). It incorporates an analysis of the young person’s offending behaviour, any risk they may present to the community or of re-offending and a proposal to the Court as to the most appropriate sentence to prevent re-offending.

The Court would then choose from a range of Community Orders which include; Action Plan Order [APO], Supervision Order [S.O], Reparation Order [R.O] etc. Separate leaflets on each of these Orders are available upon request from Croydon Youth Offending Team.

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Our Services

Assessment and intervention with young people who receive Final Warnings [Previously known as Police Cautions]
Bail and Remand Service
Providing an Appropriate Adult Service for young people in Police custody when parents / carers are unable to attend
Management of Referral Orders and Youth Offender Panels
Facilitating provision of Reparation to victims
Supervision of young offenders in the community, during, and after custody
Offending Behaviour group-work programme
Parenting Support Services
Facilitating Restorative Justice Conferences
Mentoring
Healthy Living Project
Croydon Auto Bikes Project
Drugs Assessment / Advice / Support
Mental Health Assessment / Advice / Support

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Complaints Procedure

If you have any complaints about the service you receive, please take them up in the first instance with the Youth Offending Team Officer. If you remain dissatisfied:Please write to:

Ray Maguire
YOT Manager
Croydon Youth Offending Team
14 Whitehorse Road
Croydon
CR0 2JA
Tel: 020 8404 5800
Fax: 020 8404 5810
Email: ray.maguire@croydon.gov.uk
Website: www.croydon-yot.org.uk

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All young people attending the Youth Offending Team office will be required to abide by the Centre Rules of Behaviour. A copy of these will be given with the individual contract

Page last reviewed 8th December 2003

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Croydon Youth Offending Team
14 Whitehorse Road - Croydon - CR0 2JA
Telephone: 020 8404 5800 Fax: 020 8404 5810