Warwickshire agrees new Youth Justice priorities
Warwickshire’s Youth Justice Plan for the next 12 months has this week been approved by full council (Tuesday 18 May 2010).
The document, produced annually, outlines the key priorities for Warwickshire’s Youth Justice Service and partners, as well as highlighting major successes achieved as part of last year’s plan.
Between March 2009 and March 2010, the county council-led partnership saw a 19 per cent reduction in the number of young people committing offences compared to 2008/09 and a 24 per cent fall in the number of offences committed. Re-offending rates fell by 17 per cent compared to the previous year (08/09).
There was also a sharp decrease in the number of young people who were first time entrants in to the Criminal Justice System – 40 per cent less than that of the 2007/08 base line figure.
Over the next year, the Youth Justice Service will continue to build on what they have already achieved as well as responding to new legislative changes from the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales and the Sentencing Guidelines Council.
The new Youth Rehabilitation Order has been introduced as a community sentence and as an alternative to custody, with new interventions being developed to reduce factors that could lead to a young person offending.
Lesley Tregear, Head of Warwickshire’s Youth Justice Service, said: “The aim of the Youth Justice Plan is to further strengthen the good work that the partnership has already achieved in providing an effective youth justice service, while adapting to changes in the Criminal Justice System nationally.”
Cllr Heather Timms, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Families, said: “Warwickshire’s Youth Justice Service has been working hard with partners to ensure young people are diverted away from a life of crime, and the 2010-11 plan sets out this year’s priorities to ensure Warwickshire continues to be a safer place to live, work and visit.”
To find out more about Warwickshire’s Youth Justice Service, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/yot.