Early intervention and engagement with at-risk youth plays a crucial role in tackling youth crime.
The Youth Co-Responder model breaks the mould of traditional policing by partnering police and youth justice workers to engage at-risk young people, helping to divert them from criminal and anti-social behaviour.
They also provide support and assistance, connecting young people and their families to support services and agencies to help address of social issues which may contribute to their offending such as education, employment, housing, health, mental health and domestic and family violence.
The teams provide a 24/7 response in their local communities, helping turn around the lives of at-risk young people and keeping the community safe.
Youth Co-Responder Teams conduct a variety of activities that help keep young people on track, and provide around the clock support.
From bail compliance, and checking in with young people and their families about what support they need to assisting with youth programs such as PCYC After Dark.
The team also patrol hotspot locations like parks and shopping centres, engaging with young people to ensure their safety and assisting in transporting them to places of safety and engaging with family to ensure they appropriate support.
Youth Justice worker Bec Jarman said the Youth Co-Responder work together to help bridge the gap between police and kids to foster connection.
"Sometimes kids don't get along with police for a multitude of reasons and it makes it really hard for police to engage with them," she said.
"We take the time to get to know the kids and they can trust us, and then we can start to make a difference.
"It changes their lives, getting the kids re-engaged with school or work, or getting their driver's license, because of that early support we provide."
Join the Logan Youth Co-Responder team as they engage with at-risk young people in their community in this episode of 'On Patrol'.
