Lib Dems want early action to save young from crime

Published on 15/03/2013 00:00

AN “early intervention revolution” is needed to protect young people from a life of crime, according to the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

That should include a more pastoral approach to turning around lives at Polmont Young Offenders Institute, but also providing support for children at a much younger age.

Justice spokeswoman Alison McInnes will tell the party’s spring conference in Dundee this weekend: “We’ve laid out detailed plans that would help children looked after by the state – some of the most disadvantaged of all. We want to see more supported accommodation, better support for kids leaving care, and extra help for them at school.

“We want to put better tools in place to make sure that we spot the first warning signs.

“When a child starts skipping school, when they first get into trouble, that’s the time they need our help the most.

“But what about those who still slip through the net? What about the young people who still end up as one of those statistics? For them, I want us to champion an early intervention revolution.

“I want to make sure that we give everyone – even those who end up on the wrong side of the law – that chance to get on and play a full part in our society.”