We identified thedisproportionately negative impact that the behaviour of a small minority ofyoung people were having on victims, communities and their own life chances.We remain determined toprevent that behaviour wherever possible, and confront it when it does occur.That was and is the basis for our focus on persistent young offenders.With almost one in threeoffence referrals to Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration attributableto persistent young offenders, the intention was to encourage concernedagencies to unite to tackle repeat offending and focus finite resources in waysthat could provide most support to those young people who need it, and the mostimmediate relief to communities affected by youth crime.A 10% reduction in thenumber of persistent young offenders would have seen 120 of the most recidivistyoung people in Scotland...