Youth crime fighters find boss

A NEW crime fighter has been appointed to target the persistent problem of young offenders in the county.

Pauline Camilleri is set to become the head of Buckinghamshire County Council's Youth Offending Team on March 15.

Mrs Camilleri, with 24 years' experience of local government, will draw up the county's youth justice plan under the new Crime and Disorder Act.

She will head a team which includes social workers, police officers, probation officers and education and health service representatives.

She said: "I'm looking forward to the challenges of this newly-created role and building on the working relationships already established between the agencies involved.

"Working with young offenders at an early stage will play a key role in reducing crime in the area."

Mrs Camilleri has been youth justice manager for the London Borough of Hounslow for ten years. Previously she worked as a teacher.

The cost of the Youth Offending Team will be jointly met by Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Probation Service and Buckinghamshire Health Authority.

Ian Crookall, the county council's chief executive, said: "All the organisations involved in setting up the team are committed to working effectively together to combat youth crime.

"Our aim is to help young offenders steer clear of crime and, at the same time, make Buckinghamshire a better place to live and work.

"This is a joint venture in which the county council, the police and the probation service are working closely together with our other partners in the county."

The news will come as a boost to community leaders and MPs, who fear crime will increase with the reduction of police officers in Chiltern Vale.

Thames Valley Police are relocating 47 officers to areas of higher crime, such as Oxford and Slough, while slashing budgets in High Wycombe and Amersham.

The weekend saw two serious cases of vandalism. A bus shelter was smashed in Cressex and a letter box was set on fire in Rose Avenue, Hazlemere.

Terry Seston, personnel chief for Stars News Shops, which has a branch in Rose Avenue, said senior staff have met police. They expect to spend more than £5,600 on shutters and other security measures to protect property.

He said: "We have got police co-operation but they often can't spare anyone. They're under pressure with limited resources."

Kate Spark, spokesman for Chiltern Vale Police, said they are still giving the area more patrols but sometimes 999 calls across the district have to be prioritised.

"Hazlemere hasn't been forgotten," she said.

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