Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (VVU) ReRoute works with young adults, where an individual is often presenting with some of the most prolific vulnerabilities. Essex VVU
ReRoute is a voluntary programme that reaches out to 17–25-year-olds who are suspected of having committed the following ‘trigger’ offences (with a home address in Southend, Essex and Thurrock):
Essex VVU ‘trigger offences’
- Possession of a bladed article
- Possession of class A with intent to supply.
- Possession of class B with intent to supply.
- Grievous bodily harm
- Robbery
- Violent disorder
- Affray
The ReRoute programme is based on the logic that engaging with young adult’s post arrest who are either released under investigation (RUI) or on bail and providing individualised, targeted support at this key teachable time, leads to improved outcomes for the individual and potentially reduced harm to communities.
The average time between a young persons’ arrest/first contact with the justice system and appearance at Crown Court can be up to two years. This means there is a significant gap between the time someone is suspected of committing an offence and the point they typically receive an intervention – if they are found guilty at court.
During this time the person may find it hard to deal with the uncertainty of their situation, little support by way of interventions may be in place and the persons’ vulnerability around environmental, behavioural, wellbeing and criminogenic factors is exacerbated.
Early Intervention
ReRoute recognises the importance of engaging with young adults at the earliest opportunity following arrest. There is a solid evidence base which supports the theory that early intervention at key moments increases the opportunity for purposeful and motivated engagement from a young person supporting desistence from offending behaviours.
ReRoute workers introduce as many protective factors as possible to a young adult’s life, taking a holistic approach and considering their situation, needs and motivations.
They offer help and support for housing, finances, education, training, employment, future plans, lifestyle and health and wellbeing.
ReRoute workers provide consistency in their engagement and persistence with young adults. This includes understanding when is not the right time to engage but equally they don’t ‘disappear’ and will continue to make contact as and when it is appropriate.
The ReRoute workers don’t focus on the offending behaviour/arrest but use their experience to build trust and a relationship with the young person in order to support them to make positive changes to their individual situations.
Positive outcomes through ReRoute include young people returning to education, finding employment, starting training courses or making positive life changes.
If you are a police officer dealing with a young adult at the point of arrest for an Essex VVU ReRoute trigger offence, or a professional working with a young adult where they have been arrested for one of the offences above, then making a referral to Essex VVU ReRoute could change their life and that of the local community.
If you have a young adult that meets the referral criteria, please email [email protected] (this team is part of the multi-agency Essex VVU, hosted by the PFCC).
Positive outcomes through Essex VVU ReRoute include young people returning to education, finding employment, starting training courses and overall safer communities.
Essex VVU ReRoute focuses on the critical period between arrest and court appearance. This can be a particularly challenging time for young adults—marked by uncertainty, system delays, and limited access to support—which can increase the risk of further harm to both the individual and the wider community.
Following arrest, these individuals do not immediately receive any support from services, as their case remains under consideration (for example, during the police investigation phase). During the period between arrest and a subsequent court date, young people are not automatically referred to Probation or Youth Justice services. Essex VVU ReRoute intervention was developed specifically to address this gap. Without this intervention, both the needs of these young people and the risks they may pose to themselves and their communities could escalate.
Early Intervention
Essex VVU ReRoute recognises the importance of engaging with young adults at the earliest opportunity following arrest. There is a strong evidence base which shows that early intervention at key moments increases the opportunity for purposeful and motivated engagement from a young person supporting desistence from offending behaviours.
Essex VVU practitioners based on individual need, introduce protective factors to a young adult’s life, taking a holistic approach and considering their situation, needs and motivations.
Essex VVU practitioners provide consistency in their engagement and persistence with young adults. This includes understanding when is not the right time to engage but equally they don’t ‘disappear’ and will continue to make contact as and when it is appropriate.
Essex VVU practitioners don’t focus on the offending behaviour/arrest. Though with their professional backgrounds in Probation and Youth Justice, work to reduce the risk these individuals pose while also supporting their personal development to prevent further offending and support them to live positive fulfilling active roles in their communities. VVU practitioners use their experience to build trust and a relationship with the young person in order to support them to make positive changes to their individual situations. This includes thinking and decision making skills; weapons awareness as well as practical support with housing, finances, education, training, employment, future plans, lifestyle and health and wellbeing.
Positive outcomes through Essex VVU ReRoute include young people volunteering in their communities, returning to education and finding employment.