Mentor scheme aims to support young black offenders

2:50pm Thursday 11th March 2010

By Kevin Bradford

YOUNG black offenders are being mentored by a group of role models from the community as part of a project designed to help break their association with crime.

The scheme has been launched by Barnet Council to build links between black and ethnic minority teenagers in the criminal justice system and professionals who have come from the same cultural background.

The aim is to address “stereotypes, social attitudes and prejudices” within the community by putting offenders aged 15 or 16 in touch with black role models from the borough.

Police officers, firefighters and solicitors have signed up to the project, which is working alongside youth services and the council.

PC Michael Wallace, who is based at Colindale police station, has taken on one of the mentoring roles, and said: “Without interacting with them now, there is a possibility those young people could go down the road of becoming repeat offenders.

“Some of them are coming from a background where they are caught up in the system and don't know any different from getting involved in crime.

“They feel angry and frustrated with the system and a lot of them are influenced by other people, but even though I am in a uniform, I can interact with them on a level because of my background.”

He will meet young people on a one to one basis, and said he hopes to use his experiences of growing up in Brixton to help identify with the groups of teenagers.

“Fortunately I have not gone down the wrong path, but I have seen people who have,” said the 38-year-old, who worked on a similar scheme in Westminster.

“From a positive perspective I can identify with some of the issues they might have along the way. They may have low self-esteem and can't see any hope, but I can show them as a role model that I am where I am having come out of school with only basic qualifications.

“I can relate to some of the issues they may find about being black and hopefully I can help break down some of the barriers between those offenders and the police.”

The course is overseen by a youth offending team prevention officer, and a statement from the council said they are focused on challenging “the pre-conceptions” of black males in professional roles.

It added: “The focus of the group is to address black male stereotypes, societal attitudes and prejudices, dispel negative images and promote self awareness, self esteem and to promote young people taking responsibility for their actions.”