SWINDON Borough Council's youth justice service teams have shared examples of the work they do to help young people affected by crime in the town.

The older brother of one client said: "Last year, my brother D was arrested for anti-social behaviour and was given a referral order to the council's service. He would smoke, get into fights and argue with my mum a lot. He had a job but his drug use was affecting his work and he’d become really angry, really quickly.

“After being referred , D had to take part in a session with one of the victims of his crimes, which meant them coming together to talk about what happened.

"He was so nervous, I could tell he went in defensively, but in the end he said it helped him understand what happened from the other person’s point of view – and them from his side too. He apologised to the victim and it really made him think about the affects his actions have on other people.

“He continued to be supported by the council and mental health services and was diagnosed with ADHD. With their support, he’s managed to stop taking drugs completely, and has become a different boy since completing his referral order. He was actually given early revocation by the court and is working full time to build a better future for himself.

"Although it’s taken a lot of hard work, I’m so proud of how much he’s grown.”

For more information about the youth justice service, visit http://ow.ly/oXJU50GQFf1