CHESHIRE Constabulary has renewed its call for changes to the way young people are dealt with by the police service for less severe offences and anti-social behaviour.

Last year, Cheshire reduced the number of young people entering the criminal justice system for the first time by more than the national average.

Figures relating to the criminalisation of young people in Cheshire, from 2002 to 2006, released by the Institute for Public Policy Research, do not reflect Cheshire Police’s current approach which advocates the use of community justice practices when dealing with young people.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: “The way we police in Cheshire has changed significantly over the last few years with the introduction of neighbourhood units and problem solving policing methods.

“Public accountability is important, but for too long the police service has been driven by performance targets where success was measured by the number of offenders a force brought to justice.

“This focus on performance has resulted in a rise in detection rates but an unexpected result of this approach has been that officers have spent time pursuing investigations just to hit targets.

“In Cheshire, we want what happens to young people whose behaviour is questionable, but not criminal, to reflect the needs and wishes of their victims and the wider community. These young people should not be criminalised, they should be educated as to why their behaviour is unacceptable.

“We are currently piloting restorative justice as an alternative way of dealing with young people.” Restorative justice involves setting up a meeting between the offender and the person wronged, allowing victims to understand ‘why me’ and get some closure on the incident. It gives them a voice in being able to agree what offenders should do to make amends.

“This does not mean we have gone soft on young people, it just means we are returning to common sense policing.”