More children involved in crime diversion programmes

COMMUNITY crime diversion programmes dealt with 1,000 more children last year than they did in 2008.

Some 5,480 children engaged with Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) in 2010, compared to 4,922 in 2009 and 4,457 in 2008, representing a jump of 23% in just two years.

The 2010 annual report of the Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) said that 1,614 (29%) of those involved were girls, the same as in the previous year.