Issue - meetings

Changes to the youth remand framework had come into effect on 1^st December 2012 through the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. Local authorities were now responsible for paying for remand placements, but this change had not been fully funded by the Government.   The report provided a comparative analysis of the cohort of young people remanded during the years 2012 and 2013, immediately before and after the introduction of the changes. The analysis showed that the number of individual young people remanded had increased between the two years and that a key contributory factor had been the re-offending behaviour of those aged 15 and under.

It was noted that the numbers involved - 21 in 2013 - were low and that most young people were doing well. Because of the low numbers, it was not feasible to identify the young people on a ward basis for data protection reasons. The Chairman noted the correlation between the timing of offending behaviour and absence from school. The Pupil Referral Unit had been closed and re-opened to improve the management of behaviour. Members discussed the involvement of both the Police and Social Services, and the Tackling Troubled Families programme. A Member highlighted the role of parents and the potential penalties from social landlords against troublesome families. Early intervention was crucial, and one key factor for good outcomes with these young people was speech and language difficulties, so dedicated speech therapy had been put in place.    

RESOLVED that the content of the report be noted.