Better Partnerships around youth justice: helping children and young people lead crime free lives in Wales

Karin Phillips Head of Community Safety Welsh Government 1

• Background to youth justice in Wales • Welsh Government approach to youth justice • Evidence gathering activities and findings • Proposals to improve youth justice services in Wales • Next steps 2

Background to youth justice in Wales

• • • •

Welsh Government Education Housing Social Services Health

• •

UK Government Police Probation

3

Welsh Government approach to youth justice

• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child underpins Welsh Government approach • Most effective way to prevent Children and Young People reoffending is to stop them entering the system in the first place • Partnership approach with the Youth Justice Board • Commitment from Welsh Ministers to consider the need for legislation to strengthen youth justice services in Wales 4

Evidence gathering activities

Carried out jointly with the YJB, Cymru Division • An in depth review of devolved services in youth justice by gathering the views and experiences of those working in the youth justice field • A series of 15 engagement events with internal and external stakeholders with just over 100 people attending and expressing their views • A project to profile young people who are prolific offenders (25+ offences) 5

Evidence gathering findings (Engagement and Investigation)

• Early intervention and prevention vital in supporting these young people and their families • Young people aged 16-17 have particular challenges getting support because they are between children and adult services • Housing can be a challenge for young people in the youth justice system • Education establishments can be less tolerant of children and young people who are in the youth justice system • Concerns were raised that YOTs, Courts and Secure establishments are seen as a way of getting young people the help that they need 6

Evidence gathering findings (reoffending project)

• Significant numbers of these young people were involved with social services, have no qualifications and have been referred to mental health services • Over a third were or had been placed on the child protection register, had experience of absconding or staying away from home and were identified as having Special Educational Needs • Shows that children and young people can have specific needs and vulnerabilities that both

contribute to

and

are caused

system by their involvement in the youth justice Workshop session for more information 7

Play Home Education Work

Children and Young People

(Normal Behaviour)

Prevention (No crime but offending Behaviour) WG Led Prevention YOT Led Prevention CRIME COMMITTED Diversion (Police Divert) VERDICT Community

Assess

YOT

Escalate

Custody

Trust SCH YOI

Exit (back to life)

YOT Backup

Consultation questions Prevention

Are current prevention programmes effective?

Diversion

How can services work together to divert young people from the youth justice system?

Community

How do we improve the position of children and young people in the youth justice system?

Custody

LAC for children and young people sentenced to custody

Exit

Better collaboration and cooperation when young people leave a sentence

Collaboration

Improved planning of local partners

Next Steps

• Green Paper Consultation launched on the 18 September for 3 months – welcome views • Outcome will decide the approach to youth justice in Wales – which may include legislation 9