A scheme aimed at preventing young people being sucked into a downward spiral of crime and court appearances has been launched with three pilot projects. Young offenders in court for the first time and pleading guilty now face new style referral orders.Under the scheme, panels comprising expert youth workers and membersof the local community will examine the reasons for the offending behaviour and agree a contract of corrective reparation with parents, victims and the young offenders themselves. The aim is to stop young people re-offending and becoming embroiled in a life of crime by helping them to understand the distressing consequences of their actions and to ensure they take responsibility for them.
Following the launch of the pilot scheme for VAT on line returns by Customs and Excise, the Inland Revenue now allows personal taxpayers to make their self assessment returns on line. The service was due to go live in April and several hundred taxpayers have registered to use the system, but they were unable to submit returns because of software problems which have now been resolved. Thirty taxpayers successfully submitted returns on the first day of operation.Before taxpayers who register on the site can submit a return they must order free software from the Inland Revenue orderline and wait until they receive a user identity by post. The software incorporates the tax return and it will be available for downloading later in the year. The service is supported by a telephone helpline which gives a rapid and friendly response.