ABSTRACT
Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) were set up through the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 with the purpose of preventing offending and re-offending by young people under the age of 18 (and over 10, which is now deemed as the age at which young people can be held criminally responsible for their actions), whilst also keeping in view the welfare of young people, as detailed in the various Children Acts since 1933. The Youth Justice Board oversees the work of the individual area-based YOTs. These teams are run differently in different areas, but always incorporate staff from fi ve different backgrounds: the police, the health service, probation, social care, and education. This multi-agency approach is designed to meet all the needs and risk factors associated with their offending, as identifi ed by practitioners.
