Children’s charity Barnardos has called on any incoming Government to introduce bail-supervision schemes for persistent young offenders.
The charity claims similar measures aimed at preventing children committing crime while on bail or becoming so called "bail bandits" have been successfully adopted in other countries.
Barnardos says effective supervision and support schemes ensure that parents are helped to monitor and enforce the conditions imposed by the court. They also encourage children to continue positive social activities like school attendance and healthy recreational activities.
"Until now, prisons for children are the only regime that provides the intensive response these children need. What is required is similar levels of supervision at community level," says charity said.
Barnardos regional manager Mr Sean Redmond said: "The political parties seem to be bereft of ideas. Cops, courts, and corrections have an important part to play but are unlikely to make significant change in the long run. The communities affected by youth crime deserve effective tried-and-tested responses".
The charity also wants to see the punishment for youth offenders made more appropriate to their age, a cut in the delays in bringing these children to justice and faster action by the authorities in the cases of children most at risk.
