The Greentown research project is an initiative of the Research Evidence into Policy, Programmes and Practice (REPPP) project located in the School of Law. It consists of Principal Investigator Prof Sean Redmond and researchers Eoin O’Meara Daly, John Reddy and Dr Catherine Naughton. The initial Greentown study of how locally based criminal networks influence youth offending has been used to inform a series of innovative expert workshops. This deliberative process was chaired by Dr Sean Redmond and set over 3 workshop events, with the final workshop culminating in a 2-day event on the 12^th and 13^th of December. The process aims to develop a new and effective response to the problem of children’s engagement with local criminal networks. A range of national and international experts in the areas of programme design, child welfare, law enforcement and criminal networks were recruited in order to identify missing evidence gaps, propose solutions and to assist directly in the development of a programme to:

a)            Reduce the influence of criminal networks on child offending; and

b)            Improve pro-social outcomes for children involved in criminal networks.

In the final 2 day workshop the emerging solutions and programme proposals were stressed tested by critical examination of expert peers and by using a novel ‘Dragons Den’ style approach. The Greentown team wishes to acknowledge and thank the voluntary contribution of all experts and the support of the School of Law, ITD and all University staff involved.