News
YJB to play ‘pivotal role’ in Youth Crime Action Plan implementation
The YJB has welcomed the publication today of the Youth Crime Action Plan.
15 July 2008
The plan endorses and builds on many of the YJB’s existing prevention initiatives, such as youth inclusion programmes, and also our improvements in custody and commitment to effective resettlement.
Click to download the Youth Crime Action Plan from the Home Office website [opens in new window].
We welcome the plan’s clear message about the need for wider services for children and young people to contribute more to preventing offending and reoffending. In particular, we are pleased to note the recognition of the critical role of multi-agency youth offending teams (YOTs) and the proposal to strengthen their management boards.
The YJB was involved throughout in the strategic development of the plan. Its approach echoes our vision of an effective youth justice system, where more young people who offend are caught, held to account for their actions and stop offending and where young people receive the support they need to lead crime-free lives.
For those young people who do offend, the plan endorses and recognises YJB programmes already in place, including:
- Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme
- intensive fostering
- Resettlement and Aftercare Provision
- restorative justice
- YOT workers in police stations.
The Youth Crime Action Plan’s emphasis on improving education for young people in custody supports and strengthens our existing strategy. We will work with partners to develop more detail on the future of custodial settings and with Local Authorities to progress the proposals on joint commissioning of services for the secure estate.
The commitment to improving resettlement and continuity of care for young people leaving custody is particularly welcome. Together with our partners, we look forward to expanding the range of support currently on offer.
We will be responding fully to the consultation questions in the plan and discussing with the Welsh Assembly Government how the Youth Crime Action Plan's proposals could be taken forward in Wales.
YJB Chair, Frances Done said:
“Today’s plan sets a clear direction for the future of youth justice, building on many of the achievements of the last decade. For youth justice to be effective, a wide range of agencies within and beyond the Criminal Justice System have to work together, with sufficient resources, for the benefit of children, young people and local communities. We look forward to playing a pivotal role in implementing the initiatives outlined today.”
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 Secretary of State 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 Youth Crime Action Plan is available to download from the Home Office website [opens in new window].