The Final Warning was created by the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act as a way of dealing with offences committed by young people aged 10 to 17, provided that the offence is not so serious that it needs to go to court.

It was introduced in an effort to encourage young people to take responsibility for their criminal actions and to keep them from committing further offences and it replaced the old system of police cautions for young people.

A young person arrested for a further offence within two years will nearly always go to court.

The Final Warning:

• aims to prevent re-offending by ensuring that the young person is made aware of the consequences and impact of criminal activity
• aims to take into account the wishes and feelings of victims of crime
• aims to find out the reason for the offence, and do something about the things in the young person's life, which create a risk of further offending

Youth Offending Teams have been set up in every local authority to work with the Police Officers on Final Warnings to ensure that these aims are met and to prevent offending by children and young people. The Final Warning is given on the understanding that the Youth Offending Team will work with the young offender and their parent/guardian to complete a short programme of intervention.

This will begin with an appointment for the young person and parent/guardian to see someone from the Youth Offending Team. This might be at the YOT office, the family home or at a central location. This appointment will either be made at the Police station immediately after the Final Warning has been given, or the Youth Offending Team will contact the family before the Warning being given.

It is very important that this appointment is kept. If a problem should arise to prevent you from keeping the appointment, please contact the YOT to re-arrange it.

What the programme of work might involve

Work on offending:

Brief sessions of Offence and Victim Focused work will be carried out at the YOT office by a member of the team. This is to ensure that the young person fully understands the purpose of the Final Warning.

Reparation:

May involve the offender meeting his/her victim in person to make a verbal apology. Alternatively, the young person may be required to write a letter of apology and/or take part in several hours of practical activity, which benefit the victims of crime, or the community as a whole.

What do parents/guardians have to do?

Parents/guardians should:

• attend all meetings with the young person
• encourage the young person to appreciate fully the consequences of their offending behaviour
• ensure that the young person successfully completes the activities assigned to him/her