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The ad-hoc growth of initiatives aimed at diverting children and young people from crime and anti-social behaviour has led to serious confusion on the ground, according to new government research.

A study by academics from Newcastle university published by the government last week found that in areas where there is a proliferation of local initiatives the management and delivery of services seems so complex that the impact of any one service is nearly impossible to determine.

They say that instead of a comprehensive approach to the delivery of services there is an ad hoc approach in which new initiatives are launched with little regard to how they will interact with existing initiatives, little focus on mutually compatible objectives and little understanding among professionals about relationships between different activities.

The researchers also warn of another serious problem in measuring the effectiveness of interventions. Populations in deprived areas tend to be very mobile, and area-based regeneration initiatives may speed up population mobility by attracting new people into the area which is perceived as “up and coming”.

“If the targeted population changes, questions must be asked as to whether an initiative is actually reaching those people for whom it was originally intended.” If statistics show a reduction in crime or anti-social behaviour, this may be because the people with offending behaviour have moved out of the area and been replaced by more law-abiding residents.

Targeting initiatives: diverting children and young people from crime and anti-social behaviour. Peter McCarthy et al. Department for Education and Skills. http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RB476.pdf