To review the draft Youth Justice Plan 2018/19 at appendix a, and determine any recommendations to be considered by the executive.

The committee considered a report which set out the draft Youth Justice Plan 2018 – 2019, for pre-scrutiny ahead of its presentation to Cabinet and full Council. The Head of Service (HOS), West Mercia Youth Justice Service (WMYJS), introduced the report and provided the presentation circulated in the supplement to the item. During the presentation the statistics relating to first time entrants (FTEs), use of custody and reoffending were provided

Councillor Bowen, Chair of the General Scrutiny Committee, commented on the response provided in the presentation to the recommendations of the committee from 2017. It was hoped that the timing of the preparation of the plan could be reconsidered to enable earlier comments and recommendations from scrutiny. It was pleasing that the evaluation of informal disposals had been undertaken and was included in the Plan and the year on year comparisons were welcomed. The ongoing impact of low numbers in Herefordshire was mentioned and the distortion of statistical comparisons. The HOS confirmed that the low numbers in Herefordshire did distort the figures but the WMYJS was moving to a method of presenting the numbers alongside the rate. 

The committee raised the issues below in the discussion that followed:

·         The purpose of the Plan was questioned and whether it was a statistics gathering exercise. The benefit to the community of the Plan was queried. The HOS explained that the Plan was a requirement of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and its contents were prescribed. It was explained that the primary aims of the Plan and the WMYJS was to reduce the level of FTEs and reoffending rates which contributed to the efforts to reduce risks to the wider public and young people.

·         There were concerns that the statistics used in the Plan presented an impression that crime and disorder in Herefordshire was at a very low level however it was felt that the reality on the ground was very different. Police intervention in petty crime was an area of frustration as very little appeared to be done about low level crime which contributed to its incidence in the county. This was felt to be particularly pronounced in anti-social behaviour.

·         There were concerns expressed that the experience of local communities did not accord with the presentation of the figures in the report. The HOS confirmed that the WMYJS management board had held discussion to attempt to understand the figures contained in the report in the context of increases in the level of recorded crime.      

·         There was concern regarding the relatively high reoffending rate and whilst it was acknowledged that the statistical numbers might be small it was still problematic in Herefordshire. The first time entrant rate was also perpetually higher than acceptable.

·         The research undertaken on the adverse childhood experiences was raised and when any outcomes from this research would be available. It was queried whether any information could be shared with the committee. The HOS explained that the first report would be available in October and this could be shared with the committee.

·         It was queried whether there were any parallels between some of the experiences in childhood of young people that contributed to reasons for reoffending and experiences of some looked after children (LAC) early in their lives that then contributed to issues that they faced in later life. The Head of Looked After Children (HLAC) confirmed that that there were a very low number of LAC in the criminal justice system in Hereford.    

·         The increase in the rate of drug offences was a significant concern and it was queried what work was ongoing with organisations such as Addaction. It was further queried whether the work of Addaction was limited to the city and market towns which allowed drug problems in rural areas to persist. The HOS explained that the majority of drug offences concerned the possession of small amounts of cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine. The WMYJS had employed a drug worker who provided a link and liaison to groups such as Addaction. 

·         The previous recommendation of the General Scrutiny Committee to circulate the Plan at an earlier stage of its preparation was supported by the committee.

·         The committee discussed inviting witnesses to future meetings from partners, including the Community Safety Partnership (CSP), the Police and groups such as Addaction to provide a context around the figures presented in the Plan.

·         A role for the General Scrutiny Committee was discussed to review work by the Herefordshire CSP relating to reducing youth offending and scrutinising the associated delivery plan. It was commented that the committee could look at the broader issue of youth crime and anti-social behaviour. Mentoring of children and young people by the police was also raised. The HOS explained that an overall prevention strategy would be looked at by the CSP.

·         The involvement of the WMYJS with Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and the Children and Young People Mental Health Partnership was queried. The HOS explained that a CAMHS worker had been seconded into the local team and was delivering assessments and interventions to the Youth Justice Service. Funding accessed through the transformation fund is supporting training so that staff are able to respond to mental health issues which fall below the CAMHS threshold.

·         It was requested that the Plan includes clarity regarding why it was produced, to whom it was aimed and which communities it serves.

RESOLVED: that the Committee:

·         endorses the Plan for presentation to full Council;

·         notes the improvement in the rate of first time entrants across West Mercia but recognises further progress is required to reduce the rate in Herefordshire;

·         supports an increase in the use of informal responses, such as community resolution, to divert young people from the formal justice system and recommends that this is progressed as a priority;

·         expresses concern regarding the persistently high level of reoffending in Herefordshire and recommends that the General Scrutiny Committee review the reducing youth offending delivery plan, being produced by the Herefordshire Community Safety Partnership, and also scrutinises the CSPs approach to youth crime and anti-social behaviour;

·         agrees witnesses from the police, the CSP and other relevant partners, such as Addaction, will be invited to participate in the committees future consideration of the Youth Justice Plan; and

·         requests that the Plan incorporates clarity regarding why it is produced, to whom it is aimed and the communities it serves. 

There was a brief adjournment at 11.55 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 12.03 p.m.