Larkfield to Give Youth Crime Verdict to Justice Minister

Larkfield to Give Youth Crime Verdict to Justice Minister
Youth crime will be top of the agenda when Deputy Justice Minister, Dr Richard Simpson, meets with local politicians, community workers and young people on Monday. (20^th May 2002.)

MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, who invited the Minister to Inverclyde following his visit to Greenock in March to discuss drugs policy, says he’s looking forward to a productive meeting:

"Young people, community activists, schools, the police, and indeed every local resident has an interest in this subject and has their own views about the way forward. It is therefore good to see one of the key architects of the Executive’s policy on youth crime coming to Greenock to listen to what we have to say.

"I am looking forward to a good, productive meeting and I am sure that the Minister will take a number of good ideas away with him."

"Cracking down on youth crime is not about demonising young people. We need to remember that the majority of the victims of youth crime are themselves young people. However, a minority of youngsters are letting their families, their communities and themselves down by intimidating and terrorising innocent victims.

"This cannot continue and, following representations from a number of my constituents, I have been pressing the Justice Minister, Jim Wallace, on the subject.

"I am glad that he has confirmed to me that action – from tackling street crime, to increasing police numbers, to cracking down on vandalism – is being taken. Hopefully this, combined with any new proposals which are included in the Criminal Justice Bill, means we can look forward to seeing real results in the not too distant future."
ENDS

10:00		Arrive, Larkfield Cyber Café, Burns Square, Greenock.

10:00 – 10:30		Walkabout with:
		Duncan McNeil MSP, Greenock & Inverclyde Councillor Pat McCormick, Inverclyde Council Mr Jim Pollock, Director, Larkfield Housing Association Mr Jim Canning, Chair, Larkfield Housing Association Mrs Patricia Purdie, Senior Estates Office, Inverclyde Council Ms Daisley, Member of staff, Larkfield Cyber Cafe

10:30 – 11:30		Meeting to discuss youth justice issues, Larkfield Cyber Café with other guests:
		Chief Inspector Stephen McGrath, Strathclyde Police Mrs G Canney, Chair, Community Tenants Hall Mrs J Derrick, Vice Chair, Community Tenants Hall Mr Neil Graham, Director of Community & Protective Services, Inverclyde Council Mark Molloy, Youth Connections Jo Grace, Representative National Children's Homes Robert Murphy, Head of Social Work Services, Inverclyde Council