Robyn Rosen POLICE in Haringey will begin patrols during after-school hours now the force has been given a �350,000 grant to prevent anti-social behaviour in the borough. Haringey has been chosen as one of 13 London boroughs to receive the government gra

Robyn Rosen

POLICE in Haringey will begin patrols during after-school hours now the force has been given a �350,000 grant to prevent anti-social behaviour in the borough.

Haringey has been chosen as one of 13 London boroughs to receive the government grant, part of its �100million Youth Crime Action Plan.

The money will be used to implement seven activities, including after-school patrols to prevent youth crime and anti-social behaviour at peak times. Other aspects of the initiative include officers using their powers to take children off the streets at night, deploying street-based youth teams and making young offenders work in the community as part of their rehabilitation.

David Hanson, a minister in the Home Office, said: "This funding is crucial in our fight against youth crime, both in terms of preventing young people turning to crime and protecting young people becoming victims of crime.

"There is still much work to be done and I am committed to ensuring our young people and communities are on the right track and our streets remain safe for everyone."

Ian Kibblewhite, Haringey's youth chief inspector, said: "The vast majority of young people in Haringey are not involved in anti-social behaviour, however we will continue to target the small minority of young people that are.

"We are already involved in a combination of robust enforcement, prevention and educational measures across the borough including Haringey Police Community Amateur Boxing Club, Met-Track, high-visibility patrols and increased use of stop and search.

"This additional funding will go towards additional after-school patrols to prevent youth crime and anti-social behaviour at peak times and putting Youth Offending Team workers in custody suites across the borough, to identify the needs of young people in custody at the earliest possible stage and arrange for suitable intervention and diversionary schemes."

Michael McKenzie, headteacher at Alexandra Park School in Bidwell Gardens, said: "The vast majority of young people behave well when out and about on the streets.

"We must be careful not to criminalise being young.

"But I do think young people would welcome the extra police presence as it will help deal with the visible minority who do get involved in anti-social behaviour.