News
Sharing to improve London's youth justice system
new Pan-London Protocol designed to unite the youth offending teams (YOTs) across London has been launched.
3 July 2006
The Protocol was developed with the YJB in partnership with the Directorate for Children and Learners at Government Office for London (GOL) and other agencies.
The initiative will tackle the problems of young people living in one borough but offending in another. When this occurs, it is essential that information, like offending history, follows the young person.
Without information being shared quickly as well and accurately court processes may be slowed down. The Protocol will mean that, through agreed and uniform arrangements, information will follow young people through the system more efficiently. It will improve the way that the youth justice system in London operates. It also ensures that YOTs are clear as to who takes responsibility and when for the often mobile population of young people who offend across London.
Ellie Roy, Chief Executive of the YJB, who is helping host the signing ceremony, said: “This Protocol has been needed for some time. Other groups, like the Metropolitan Police Service and Crown Prosecution Service operate as one body across the capital so they expect a consistent approach from YOTs. This protocol makes this possible and replaces each YOT having its own system. The Protocol certainly shows the benefit of YOTs working together.”
Susannah Hancock, the YJB’s London Regional Manager, said: “Each YOT needs to understand how, when and where to share information with other teams, as well as who should take responsibility for individual young people. Particularly those appearing in a courts outside of their home borough. There needs to be a consistent, agreed approach. London’s young offenders – and more importantly our local communities – need a system that is rapid enough to ensure their cases are properly handled. The swift administration of justice is essential if we are to hold young offenders to account and tackle their criminal and anti-social behaviour.”
The YJB has worked with GOL, Westminster City Council, London’s 32 YOTs, the Association of London Directors of Children’s Services and other agencies to develop the DfES-funded Protocol.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales. We work to prevent offending and reoffending by children and young people under the age of 18, and to ensure that custody for them is safe, secure, and addresses the causes of their offending behaviour.
- Specifically, we advise the Home Secretary on the operation of, and standards for, the youth justice system; monitor the performance of the youth justice system; purchase places for, and place, children and young people remanded or sentenced to custody; identify and promote effective practice; make grants to local authorities or other bodies to support the development of effective practice; commission research and publish information.
- The ‘home YOT’ (borough YOT where young person lives) needs to be able to give and receive information with the ‘host YOT’ (borough YOT where young person offends) and with other agencies, such as the police. The Protocol confirms this process for sharing information.
- For copies of the Protocol, please contact Susannah Hancock, 020 7152 4411, susannah.hancock@yjb.gov.uk.
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