There’s been an increase of just over 20 percent in the rate of youth crime in the Clare Garda Division over the last year.
New figures, released to Clare FM, show there were a total of 625 referrals to a Garda scheme designed to handle youth offenders.
It comes as part of a Morning Focus series highlighting the issue of children involved in crime in this county.
Whenever someone under the age of 18 is involved in a crime, they must be considered for a caution as an alternative to court.
That decision is made by the Superintendent at the Irish Youth Justice Service.
The Garda Youth Diversion Programme aims to keep young offenders – in so far as possible – out of the courts and away from further crime.
In this county last year, 625 referrals were made to the programme for a range of different offences.
Thefts were the most common, followed by underage drinking and drunkenness but Gardaí stress that that is down to a very proactive approach in terms of detection of teen drinking.
They say that the vast majority of young people only come to their attention once.
Other offences include cases of assault, trespass, public order incidents, road traffic offences, matters related to drugs, sexual crimes and, for the first time ever this year, internet crime – there were seven referrals in this category.
Gardaí point to the success of the Diversion Programme in keeping kids from re-offending and avoiding a life of crime.
Bronwyn is one of those who’s been referred in the past.
She’s told Morning Focus that without this programme, her life would have been very different.
Therese Flannery is one of two Juvenile Liaison Officers in Clare and says the scheme is a route to a new life for many.
Clare FM’s Morning Focus will continue to highlight work associated with the Garda Youth Diversion Programme throughout this week.
