To endorse the Youth Justice Plan 2019/20 for approval by full Council and consider whether there are any comments the committee would wish to make that would inform the production of the Plan for 2020/21.

The committee considered a report by the Cabinet Member Children and Families concerning the youth justice plan 2018/19. The Head of Service (HoS), West Mercia Youth Offending Service introduced the report and explained that there had been a decrease in the number of first time entrants in 2018/19, custody was only used once during 2018 and there had been a reduction in the reoffending cohort. The HoS was joined by DCI Jon Roberts who assisted in answering questions relating to youth justice on behalf of West Mercia Police.

The committee raised those comments below in the debate that followed:

·         The reoffending rate had improved but it was still high in Herefordshire compared to West Mercia. There was some contradiction in the service user feedback which stated that 92% of individuals made better decisions. The HoS explained that the rate in Herefordshire was better than the national average of 40% however it was recognised that within West Mercia the county’s reoffending rate was higher than other areas. DCI Roberts explained that the joint review panel had been effective in identifying children at risk of criminality and diverting them from offending.

·         The first time entrants rate was raised and it was queried why Herefordshire as a rural county was not significantly outperforming urban areas in West Mercia. The HoS explained that Herefordshire used to have the highest first time entrants rate in the West Mercia region but was now lower than the region as a whole.

·         It was requested that in future the plan contain an addendum with the latest statistics available for the measures.

·         It was queried how the youth justice service worked with CAMHS. The HoS explained that support was provided to the youth offending team from psychologists from CAMHS who worked with staff in the team to provide advice on the handling of complex cases.

·         The success of the initiative to increase multi-agency assurance reporting was queried and whether there were any partners in particular that were difficult to engage. The HoS explained that the assurance reporting had not been undertaken before the current year. It was confirmed that engagement in the high risk panels had improved.

·         The issue of delays to the processing of young people through the justice system was raised. The HoS and DCI Roberts explained that there was a delay in those cases where young people had been released under investigation. This was a delay in the criminal justice process but this did not cause a delay in the youth justice process and consideration by the youth justice panel.

·         It was queried how the youth justice team was working with the early help at the council to prevent young people becoming involved in crime. The HoS explained that work between the youth justice team and the early help team consisted of developing a pathway for young people whose siblings were involved in criminality. The timescale for the completion of this piece of work would be provided after the meeting. In addition the early help team sat on the youth justice panel and took referrals.  DCI Roberts explained that diversionary activity was in place, such as the boxing club, which local agencies referred into.

·         The committee queried the prevalence of county lines activity in Herefordshire and the impact of the pre-court decision making arrangements on its incidence. The HoS explained that the pre-court decision making arrangement sought to avoid the criminalisation of young people on the edge of county lines activity. DCI Roberts explained the multi-agency work that was in progress concerning child exploitation and outlined intelligence that was known regarding county lines activity in Herefordshire. It was confirmed that the police and crime commissioner was looking at resourcing work to counter county lines activity.

·         The resourcing of county lines activity was raised as a potential topic for general scrutiny to consider as part of its work programme.

The Cabinet Member Children and Families spoke on the youth justice plan and commented that the number of reduced first time entrants was positive. The intervention work undertaken to divert young people from criminality was encouraging and it was recognised that the campaign against county lines activity was challenging.

RESOLVED:

That the committee:

·         Endorses the Youth Justice Plan for presentation to full Council; and

·         Asks that an addendum is added to the report, in forthcoming years, providing up-to-date statistics.