This summer, we have been stepping up our work in Islington to help tackle youth crime in the borough.

In partnership with Islington Council, workers from the SOS Project are carrying out assertive outreach with young people at risk in hotspot areas in the borough. They are working on Friday and Saturday nights to keep young people engaged with positive activities and steered away from crime and anti-social behaviour.

Summer holidays are often a risky time for areas affected by youth crime. Young people from poorer backgrounds may not have access to positive activities or families who can afford to go away.

The work comes as part of Islington Council’s Youth Crime Plan. It builds on our existing work in Islington delivered by our SOS Project through the borough’s Integrated Gangs Unit. This work has recently been extended through our successful bid for the tender to offer gangs intervention work in Islington through the SOS Project.

Our team bring a mix of first-hand experience to bear as they are from similar backgrounds to the young people they will help.

Community Services Manager Bernie Kastner said: “We are pleased to be working with Islington Council to bring our expertise and highly credible team to help keep young people engaged in positive activities and diverted from crime and anti-social behaviour. Our approach of using those who have ‘been there’ themselves means they can engage the most excluded young people, effectively challenge negative thinking and behaviour where necessary and offer the right support when it is needed.”

Councillor Joe Caluori, Executive Member for Children and Families in Islington, said: “We’ve seen reductions in first time entrants into the criminal justice system and we will continue to invest more than any other London Borough in services for young people.”