Number of juvenile liaison officers ‘woefully low’ as youth crime on rise

MORE juvenile liaison officers and better mental health and resource facilities are needed to tackle growing youth crime, according to a leading lobby group.

Responding to new figures on youth offending which show that 21,000 children were referred to the Garda’s youth diversion programme last year, Youth Work Ireland said yesterday that the number of juvenile liaison officers is “woefully low”.

The organisation said there is still no mainstream capital funding for youth facilities.