A tiny minority of our young people are involved in crime - only 2% are frequent serious offenders. Young people are much more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of crime.

However, I am very worried at the high level of crime committed by young ex-prisoners. Eight out of ten young offenders are reconvicted within two years of leaving prison and yet the prison service cost £2 billion.

We must have prisons as serious and violent offenders need to be locked up. But we must also tackle the causes of crime- resources should be invested in community initiatives such as more positive activities for young people, more support for parents, more drug treatment, more supported housing for homeless young people and increased provision for young people with mental health problems

When it costs for £50,800 per year to send someone to a Young Offenders Institution, £164,750 pa to send a child to a Secure Training Centre and £185,780pa to place a child in a Local Authority Secure Children's Home, this has to be a more cost-effective way of reducing crime.