MORE and more children in Exeter are being drawn into crime, putting their own futures in jeopardy, according to the city’s MP.

Labour MP Steve Race today welcomed a major overhaul of the youth justice system designed to intervene earlier, cut reoffending, and keep places like Exeter safe.

These reforms are part of the Labour government’s mission to cut crime, halve knife crime over a decade and deliver safer streets, and come in a new Youth Justice White Paper which sets out reforms aimed at stopping more young people falling into crime and break the cycle of re-offending.

They come as figures show eight in 10 prolific offenders first committed a crime as a child.

Mr Race said: “When I speak to people across Exeter, they often tell me they see too many young people being drawn into crime, with dire consequences for victims, communities and Now more children at risk of offending will receive targeted support earlier through expanded prevention programmes, helping steer them away from crime before it escalates.

New Youth Intervention Courts will be piloted to tackle repeat offending, bringing together judges, youth justice services and specialist support.

There will also be an extra £15.4million each year in a programme to help 12,000 children at risk of entering the youth justice system over the next three years.

“This government is investing in a range of early interventions at every stage in children’s lives,” said Mr Race. “From Best Start Family Hubs that will make sure every child has the best possible start in their first years, right through to fast track apprenticeships and a new Youth Jobs Grant to set young people up for success when they enter the world of work.

“But the lack of support and effective interventions for 14 years under the Conservatives mean we also need to urgently overhaul the youth justice system.”

He said he was pleased with the government’s new measures which would help ‘break the cycle of criminality’.