Summer Splash Schemes 2000: Findings From Six Case Studies

• NCJ Number: 198288
• Author(s): Camille Loxley; Liz Curtin; Rick Brown
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 38 pages
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office, Policing and Reducing Crime Unit
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Crime Reduction Research Series Paper 12

Annotation

This is a report on the evaluation of 6 of 105 "Splash" programs in England and Wales, which were conducted for youth ages 13 to 17 in the summer of 2000 to provide events and activities for the purpose of reducing juvenile crime and disorder.

Abstract

The evaluation examined the process involved in setting up and operating the programs, as well as their impact on crime and disorder in the areas served. Evaluators visited all six programs over their 5 to 6 weeks duration; however, crime and disorder incident data were available for only three of the programs. Program activities ranged from arts and crafts, drama, and football to DJ workshops, dry slope skiing, graffiti projects, and kayaking. Only one of the three schemes for which crime and disorder data were available showed a decline in incidents reported to the police in August 2000. This program differed from the two others in that it was in an area that had not offered any previous summer activities for youth, and it had a relatively high rate of previous incidents. In the other two sites, no impact on crime and disorder was associated with additional funding. In one of these two sites, there was a relatively low level of delinquency in the summer at the outset. The evaluation resulted in three key findings. First, youth crime does not increase dramatically during the summer holidays, with or without "Splash" programs. Second, modest youth-activity interventions can have a significant impact in areas with little previous youth activities; and third, modest additional interventions can have a diminishing impact in areas with a reasonable level of existing youth activities. Among the recommendations for future programs are to target high-crime areas and high-risk youth, allow time for planning, market the program locally, select an appropriate location, and tailor activities to meet the interests of youth. 5 tables, 3 references, and appended description of program activities and the classification of incident categories into youth and non-youth related incidents