An award-winning project that diverts young people away from a life in organised crime has begun work in Dundee.
Cabinet Secretary for Justice Keith Brown joined top police officers and social workers at today's launch.
They were there with bosses of the Action for Children’s Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention service, that has been running in Glasgow since 2013.
The success of the programme has resulted in it being launched in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Newcastle.
As part of a continuing roll-out to areas across the UK - funded by £4.6 million from The National Lottery Community Fund - it will now support young people in Dundee on the cusp of organised crime.
The project identifies vulnerable young people aged 11-18-years-old who are on the verge of getting into drug supply and distribution, money laundering, stealing to order and illegal enforcement.
Action for Children will offer targeted support in the form of ‘peer mentors’, many of whom are former young offenders.
This approach gives the young people role models who have been on the journey themselves and helps build crucial relationships which help facilitate engagement with other aspects of the programme such as education and employment training.
The service was created by Paul Carberry who said: “ I have seen families destroyed by substance abuse, parents indebted to loan sharks and housing schemes controlled by career criminals.
“This is largely hidden from mainstream society while having a disproportionately high impact on the most disadvantaged, marginalised communities in our country.
“Other statutory services have been unable to reach and meaningfully engage with these young people but we have and our peer mentors have be key to the success of the programme.
“The relationship building has been key in supporting the move away from criminality and onto positive pathways through education and employment.”
Kate Still, from the National Lottery added: “This is a great example of a successful peer mentoring model which began in Scotland and is now being replicated in other areas of the UK, thanks to £4.6 million of National Lottery funding.
“I’m delighted that Dundee is one of the places that will be able to benefit from this expansion which will give many more young people the opportunity to make positive life changing choices.”
While local police commander, Chief Superintendent Phil Davison, said: “Police Scotland is committed to working in partnership to target criminals and groups who endeavour to exploit the most vulnerable members of our communities.
“Helping to divert young people from becoming involved into these nefarious activities remains a priority for our officers.
“The roll-out of Action for Children’s proven initiative in Dundee is a positive step in helping to ensure we collectively safeguard individuals who may be at risk.”
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