Youth intervention officers

We have dedicated youth intervention officers working directly with 860 schools and colleges, and 256,000 children and young people living in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Youth intervention officers work with our neighbourhood policing teams to implementing our youth strategy, and support our partner agencies to implement the 'Every Child Matters' agenda.

The 'Every Child Matters' agenda recognises that children and young people have the right to:

• Be healthy
• Stay safe
• Enjoy and achieve
• Make a positive contribution, and;
• Achieve economic well being

Our youth intervention officers work with young people as influential members of local communities and also support young people who have become victims of crime as well as working with those who may be at risk of offending or re-offending or those who may be taking part in anti-social behaviour.

Youth interventions officers play a part in teaching subjects, on a needs-led basis, which are part of the school curriculum supporting 'Personal', 'Social', 'Health', 'Citizenship' and 'Economics'. They talk to young people about personal safety, substance use and misuse.

Youth intervention officers also take part in the following police activities:

• working jointly with the Education Welfare Service to prevent truancy
• working with children, young people and schools as part of the community consultation process
• providing initial response, support, advice and guidance on drug-related incidents in schools
• monitoring all incidents occurring on school premises and work with partners to solve problems such as damage
• encouraging young people to take an active role in reducing crime within their communities through initiatives such as Crimebeat
• supporting youth organisations and groups involved in empowering young people and developing social skills, for example the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Prince’s Trust and Youth Councils
• working in partnership with other organisations to address issues concerning young people, particularly local initiatives developed with the Children’s Fund
• working with workers from the youth advice service - Connexions, in schools to assist young people within the 13-19 age group who may be at risk of becoming involved with anti-social behaviour or other offences