Agenda item

This report sets out progress made in addressing youth offending and outlines an initiative to reduce the re-offending rates of young people who have experienced trauma.

The Head of Young People’s Prevention Service introduced this item to the Panel. She informed them that B&NES tends to have a lower youth custody rate than other areas and in 2014 and 2015, was one of a very small number of areas to have no young people sent to custody at all. She added that following a spike in 2017-18, there was only one custodial sentence in 2018-19 and that the rate of first time entrants to the youth justice system continues to fall, but the latest re-offending data is higher than all comparators.

She explained that one of the key actions has been to take forward the Enhanced Case Management pilot - this work is part of a Youth Justice Board initiative, first trialled in Wales and now about to be piloted across the West of England including B&NES. She said that this trauma-informed approach is aimed at young people who have experienced adverse childhood experiences and have a history of prolific offending.

She said that work is currently underway to produce a Youth Justice Plan for 2019-2020 and the emerging priorities include commencing the Enhanced Case Management pilot, completing and delivering the Serious Youth Violence Protocol and developing use of the national re-offending tracker. 

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if B&NES has an issue with County Lines as she had heard of two possible cases in Radstock in addition to the one recorded incident.

The Head of Young People’s Prevention Service said that she was aware that other cases may exist, but that only one had resulted in a custodial sentence.

Councillor Hardman asked how wide the issue was within B&NES.

The Head of Young People’s Prevention Service replied that this was difficult to comment upon as it may be the case that the Police and other practitioners are duplicating the recording of possible cases.

The Corporate Director added that this issue was an evolving picture and that the Council works with the Police and other Local Authorities on it.

Councillor Hardman asked for further information of how the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) has been involved in this work area.

The Head of Young People’s Prevention Service replied that the LSCB has recently adopted a Youth @ Risk Strategy and work is underway to develop six protocols to sit under this, addressing all forms of youth exploitation. She stated that one of the protocols will address serious youth violence, supporting work to prevent offending that causes significant harm in the community and places perpetrators at risk of custodial sentences. She said that another is focused on addressing Harmful Sexual Behaviour.

Councillor Peter Turner asked if there were any prime reasons for re-offending.

The Head of Young People’s Prevention Service replied that unfortunately there were many. She said that a correlation between adverse child experiences, such as abuse, neglect and substance misuse does exist.

The Chair asked how the funding for the service compares to last year and is it sufficient.

The Head of Young People’s Prevention Service replied that funding from Police and Probation has decreased, but that she was hopeful the same level will be maintained from the Youth Justice Board. She added that in terms of staffing, she felt that it was stable in the main.

The Chair asked the Head of Young People’s Prevention Service to pass on her thanks and appreciation to staff in the Youth Offending Service.

The Panel RESOLVED to:

i)  Note the progress made in the partnership’s work of preventing youth offending;

ii)  Support the identification of priority areas for the Youth Justice Plan 2019-2020.