To recommend the Youth Justice Plan 2016/17 for approval by Council.

The cabinet member for young people and children’s wellbeing introduced the report. He noted that very few children in Herefordshire were involved in youth offending and that the general picture was encouraging. The levels of both offending and reoffending in Herefordshire had decreased.

The head of west mercia youth offending service outlined the purpose of the youth justice plan and the information it contained.

The cabinet member for health and wellbeing noted that the clinical commission groups (CCGs) across the west mercia area were not represented on the youth justice service management board and had not signed the plan. She asked whether the youth offending service was receiving the necessary support and commitment from health bodies. The head of west merica youth offending service responded that the west mercia area covered 7 CCGs and that they all made a resource contribution. In Herefordshire for example a post was seconded from CAMHS to provide mental health support. He reported that a representative from Shropshire CCG had recently agreed to join the board and would act as a conduit for the other CCGs in the west mercia area.

A group leader noted that the second highest number of offences in Herefordshire had been for drug related offences and asked what was being done to address this. The head of the youth offending service stated that drug offences were generally the second or third most common offence in all the areas the service worked across and that specialist support was in place.

A group leader asked how many of the young offenders in the report were looked after children. The head of the youth offending service reported that 12 of the 65 young people recorded were looked after by Herefordshire Council and that a further 13 were looked after by other authorities.

A cabinet support member noted the potential for work with parish councils on reparation projects and asked how the service was reaching out to parish councils. The head of the youth offending service responded that the example set out in the youth justice plan had been circulated through the parish council network. He asked that councillors raise awareness of such projects with their parishes.

A scrutiny chair asked if the youth offending service had known about the looked after children in Herefordshire placed by other authorities. The head of the youth offending service confirmed that they had known as the home authority of the young person would have had to refer them to the service in Herefordshire. He also stated that children’s homes were required to notify the authority in which the young person was resident as well as the authority providing care when dealing with young offenders. 

Resolved that:

a)    the Youth Justice Plan be recommended to Council for approval.