Issue - meetings

This report requests Council approval of the Medway Youth Justice Partnership Strategic Plan 2020 – 2023. The Plan has been refreshed from  2020 and co-produced with the Youth Justice Partnership (YJP) and influenced by national research and evidence of effective practice and has taken examples from across National Partnerships.

Background:

This report provided details of the annual update of the Youth Justice Plan, which set out how youth justice would be delivered locally within available resources.

The report stated that the Plan had been refreshed from last year and co-produced with the Youth Justice Partnership (YJP) and influenced by national research and evidence of effective practice and had taken examples across National Partnerships.

The report had been considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 June 2021 and by the Cabinet on 13 July 2021. The comments, recommendations and decisions of the Committee and Cabinet were set out in sections 6 and 7 of report respectively.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken in relation to the Plan, details of which were set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services – Lead Member, Councillor Mrs Josie Iles, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council noted the comments from the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as set out at section 6 of the report and the decision made by the Cabinet, as set out at section 7 of the report.

b)    The Council approved the Medway Youth Justice Partnership Strategic Plan 2020 – 2023 attached at Appendix 1 to the report, including its accompanying delivery plan (attached at Appendix A to the Strategic Plan).

Background:

This report provided details of the annual update of the Youth Justice Plan, which would set out how youth justice would be delivered locally within available resources.

The report stated that the Plan had been refreshed from last year and co-produced with the Youth Justice Partnership (YJP) and influenced by national research and evidence of effective practice and had taken examples across National Partnerships.

The report had been considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 June 2021 and its comments were set out in section 6 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the Strategy, details of which were set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998, requires Local Authorities to have a Youth Justice Plan, which is updated annually to set out how youth justice will be delivered locally within available resources.

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998, requires Local Authorities to have a Youth Justice Plan, which is updated annually to set out how youth justice will be delivered locally within available resources.

This plan (attached at Appendix 1) has been refreshed from last year 2020 and co-produced with the Youth Justice Partnership (YJP) and influenced by national research and evidence of effective practice and has taken examples across National Partnerships.

Discussion:

The Youth Offending Team (YOT) Manager introduced the report which refreshed the Youth Justice Partnership Strategic Plan 2020-2023. He explained that the priorities remained the same but that he had worked with the YOT staff to ensure the plan communicated better to staff what they should be doing in practice.

Members then raised a number of questions and comments which included:

·       Increase in violent crime – in response to a concern raised about the increase in violent crime the YOT Manager confirmed this was not local to Medway but a national area of concern. He explained that the Violence Reduction Unit was a Central Government initiative and ran locally across Kent and Medway as a Police led initiative. In addition, there was a Serious Youth Violence Project, which again operated across Kent and Medway and provided the YOT with greater capacity to work more intensely with young people.

·       Impact of COVID – when asked about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth offending, it was confirmed that it had caused delays in the youth court system which had resulted in an increase in out of court disposals. 

·       Number of young people in custody – it was explained that this had dropped in 2020/21, with one young person entering custody, who had since been released and was currently being supported by the YOT.

·       Representation of children in care – it was explained that there was always an over-representation of children in care within the youth justice system, which was attributable to the disruptive and difficult lives children in care had often had. The YOT worked closely with the police so that when a child in care became known to the police, the YOT could work with that young person at the earliest opportunity possible, to prevent further progression into the justice system.

·       Support for girls – following a concern raised about the support the YOT provided to girls, the YOT Manager confirmed that the Data and Analysis officer, who was now in post, had found that reoffending of girls was not significant compared to boys, demonstrating that their interactions with the YOT were generally successful.

·       YOT Budget – in response to a query about the budget for the YOT, it was explained that the budget was made up of contributions from statutory partners who were accountable.  It was added that an external review of the YOT, by Medway’s Partner in Practice, Essex County Council, would be undertaken and would include a review of the YOT’s resourcing.

·       Quality of data – concern was raised about the lack of current data within the report.  It was explained that national comparative data from the Youth Justice Board was provided two years out of date.  In addition, the service now had a Data and Analysis officer for the first time since 2016 which would enable more current and rich local data going forward and it was requested that this be provided when available.

·       Police and Crime Evidence (PACE) Beds – in response to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52