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Glossary
Reprimand – a formal verbal warning given by a police officer to a young person who admits they are guilty of a minor first offence. Sometimes the young person can be referred to the Youth Offending Service (YOS) to take part in a voluntary programme to help them address their offending behaviour.
Final Warning is a formal verbal warning given by a police officer to a young person who admits their guilt for a first or second offence. Unlike a Reprimand, however, the young person is also assessed to determine the causes of their offending behaviour and a programme of activities is identified to address them.
Child Safety Order - This order only applies to children under 10 years of age. It can be applied to a child who has committed an offence, has breached a Child Curfew or has caused harassment, distress or alarm to others. Under a Child Safety Order, a social worker or officer from the Youth Offending Service (YOS) supervises the child. If the order is not complied with, the child can be the subject of a care order.
An Acceptable Behaviour Contract is given when a local authority and Youth Offending Service (YOS) identify a young person who is behaving anti-socially at a low level. With the young person and their parents/carers, they agree a contract under which the young person agrees to stop the patterns of behaviour that are causing nuisance to the local community and undertake activities to address their offending behaviour.
An Anti-Social Behaviour Order can be applied for by the police and/or a local authority. The order can be used with anyone who is 10 years of age or over and is behaving in a manner that causes distress or harassment to someone or some people who do not live in their own household. The Order stops the young person from going to particular places or doing particular things. If they do not comply with the order, they can be prosecuted.
An ‘Appropriate adult’ can be your parent or guardian, a social worker, an adult friend (as long as they are not involved in the alleged offence as a victim, witness or suspect) or a volunteer who has been specially trained. The appropriate adult is there to support you, give you advice, make sure that the police interview is conducted properly (and to stop the interview if it is not or if you get upset) and to help you get your views across. You should also have a solicitor – if you don’t know one, the police will provide a ‘duty solicitor’ for you.
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