Executive Summary
As part of the Government’s Young Futures Programme, and in alignment with the Police and Crime Plan priority to, `Reduce crime, antisocial behaviour and harm’, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) secured Home Office funding to support the development and delivery of a local Young Futures Prevention Panel.
In October 2025, a multi-agency Prevention Panel was established in Hartlepool (Hartlepool Inclusion Panel.) This was to pilot a local approach to identify and support children and young people who are vulnerable and at risk of being drawn into crime, including serious violence.
Since implementation, service mapping has been carried out to identify the support required for young people.
This process has highlighted additional services needed to meet the individual needs of those referred to the panel. These include:
Mentoring
One to one work with young people and to positively impact on substance misuse, behavioural difficulties, educational outcomes, and self-esteem.
Restorative Justice
This intervention includes assessment and awareness sessions designed to help young people understand the impact of their behaviour on others and on the wider community. It is an established approach that supports both the person responsible for the behaviour and those affected, enabling communication and, where appropriate, facilitating steps to repair the harm caused.
Therapeutic interventions
These interventions encompass a range of services, which may include support from a qualified social worker who provides individual mentoring for the most complex cases identified by the prevention panel. They will involve counselling or specialist therapy, as well as activities that help young people develop social-emotional skills such as self-regulation, communication, relationship-building, and decision-making. The overall aim of therapeutic techniques is to help young people manage their behaviour more effectively and develop healthy, appropriate coping strategies.
In addition, a further requirement has been identified for strengthened management oversight of the Prevention Panel and the delivery of interventions.
To support the delivery of Prevention Panel interventions, funding will be awarded to Hartlepool Borough Council to provide the required interventions and additional management support up to 31st March 2026.
Decision 2025/26 – 036: Prevention Panel Intervention and Management Funding (application, 164kB)