Private security firm watches teenager 24/7
A 14-year-old boy who committed 30 crimes in three months is being supervised around the clock by a private security firm at a cost of €1,500 a day to the taxpayer.
The teenager in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, has terrorized his victims with thefts, robbery and assaults. He is too young for youth prison as he committed the crimes when he was 13, Bild newspaper reported on Friday.
He is therefore supervised by three guards from a private security firm every time he leaves the house at a cost of €1,500 a day.
Ulrich Engelen, deputy head of Essen’s youth services, said: “We have tried all the usual measures. He was even in a secure facility but we had to stop that because the threat to the social workers and other children was too great.”
He added: “I have to be responsible for the cost, but the protection of potential victims is more important.”
Bild reported the case was the first of its kind in Germany and said it appeared to be working. The boy has not committed any crimes since the security guards were brought in and now he has turned 14 he can be jailed the next time he is found guilty of a crime.
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The teenager in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, has terrorized his victims with thefts, robbery and assaults. He is too young for youth prison as he committed the crimes when he was 13, Bild newspaper reported on Friday.
He is therefore supervised by three guards from a private security firm every time he leaves the house at a cost of €1,500 a day.
Ulrich Engelen, deputy head of Essen’s youth services, said: “We have tried all the usual measures. He was even in a secure facility but we had to stop that because the threat to the social workers and other children was too great.”
He added: “I have to be responsible for the cost, but the protection of potential victims is more important.”
Bild reported the case was the first of its kind in Germany and said it appeared to be working. The boy has not committed any crimes since the security guards were brought in and now he has turned 14 he can be jailed the next time he is found guilty of a crime.
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