'Invest in under-fives' to reduce crime rates » Communities » 24dash.com

An American policy expert who justifies spending on early childhood education and other evidence-based programmes for young people because they can, in part, reduce crime rates and pressure on the prison system is supporting Birmingham's drive to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Steve Aos, from Washington State Institute, recently presented evidence to a US House of Representatives committee claiming that "a significant level of future prison construction can be avoided, Washington taxpayers can save about two billion dollars, and crime rates can be reduced."

Birmingham's invitation to Aos is timely given the Home Office is considering a sizeable transfer of responsibility for tackling youth crime to local authorities.

Children's Trusts are being recommended to take on a greater role as part of a shake-up of the youth justice system.

Aos, who has over 30 years' experience in conducting cost-benefit analyses in a wide range of public policy areas and for the private sector, is careful to talk of a finely tuned balance between social policy and financial considerations.

He said: "Economics can’t solve everything. We can't quantify everything in that way," he says. But he is clear that his work has been all about, as he says, state government and city government trying to find ways to spend taxpayer dollars more wisely.

"Even before we try to attach money values to outcomes there is solid research to identify programmes that work in producing less crime, less abuse, lower teenage pregnancy for example."

"But we can take it to the next step by putting this on a footing where you can get the best return on investment," he explains.

He says cross-party political support is needed and in the United States, while they might be divided on some social issues, both Democrats and Republicans can find more to agree on when the discussion is about getting the best return on taxpayer investment.

Because of the financial argument, he says in the USA business interests are now among the biggest supporters of home visits for young mothers and other forms of early years intervention.

In Birmingham, services for almost 300,000 young people are to be re-designed around the belief that investment in early years support and preventative work will reduce the need for more expensive social care in later life. Birmingham's strategy 'Brighter Futures', has recently been agreed by the city council, health service, police, probation and the voluntary sector.

Birmingham's priority outcomes agreed by all the key agencies are for the city's children to be happy, intelligent, healthy, sociable and skilled for employment.

Councillor Lawrence, the city's cabinet member for children, young people and families said: "We are doing this because it will provide better outcomes for our children. Particularly because of our population profile, our young people are the greatest resource we have for creating a prosperous and fulfilling future."

Aos says he is encouraged by Birmingham's approach. "They have a good strong proposal to apply evidence-based and cost-beneficial solutions," he comments.

This month he will give the keynote speech at a gathering of care workers, teachers, youth workers, health professionals, educationalists and early years experts in the city. The Brighter Futures – Birmingham values children and young people conference takes place on 2 July at the ICC in Birmingham.