To approve the Youth Justice Plan 2019-2020

Council considered a report from the cabinet member children and families to approve the youth justice plan 2019-2020. The cabinet member children and families proposed the report and recommendation and explained that the youth justice plan was a partnership document which was produced on behalf of local councils by the youth justice service for West Mercia. She further explained that the indicators in the report showed improvement in issues relating to youth justice in Herefordshire including: a reducing trend in the number of first time entrants to the criminal justice system (CJS); the number of young people in custody in Herefordshire in the report stood at just one; and reoffending had improved. The plan had a proactive focus which sought to prevent entry to the CJS including mental health support and mentoring.

The report and recommendation was seconded by Councillor Jeremy Milln.

The principal points below were raised by members during the debate:

·         The Plan was considered by the children and young people scrutiny committee which had expressed frustration with the plan as it contained an overview of previous period without up to date data. Part of the recommendations of the committee focused on the production of an addendum in future years which provided the latest statistics relating to youth justice.

·         It was recognised that the basis of the statistics in the report were misleading for a small area such as Herefordshire and did not provide an accurate representation of the issues locally.

·         The improvements reported in the Plan were welcomed.

·         The priority in the Plan to ensure young peoples’ mental health needs were met through increased training for practitioners was highlighted and it was queried whether enough was being done in pursuance of this priority. The cabinet member children and families explained that more could always be done and this priority was being explored with partners.

·         It was noted that a new mental health initiative was focusing on young offenders when they were taken into custody.

·         Concern was expressed regarding the court appearances in Kidderminster of cases on remand which was considered to be indicative of the downgrading of services in Herefordshire.

In seconding the report and recommendation Councillor Jeremy Milln explained that the trends in the report represented improvements across West Mercia and were encouraging.

The report and recommendation was approved unanimously by Council.

RESOLVED: That the youth justice plan 2019/20 in appendix a is approved.