Issue - meetings

Report cef22070

The report provided an update on the work of the Bromley Youth Justice Service since April 2022, including performance and work to address offending.

The Head of Youth Justice and Youth Services confirmed that the Local Authority was working with the London Boroughs of Croydon and Sutton and the Metropolitan Police to develop the Engage intervention project in which youth workers would be based within the custody suite to provide an outreach youth support programme for children and young people who had been arrested.  Another intervention programme, Your Choice, was also being piloted and was a London-wide 3-year programme designed to address a gap in provision by using cognitive behavioural techniques to support children affected by extra familial harm and violence.  In response to a question from a Member, the Head of Youth Justice and Youth Services advised that children and young people found with drugs in their possession were referred for support to the Substance Misuse Service.  Only a very small number of Bromley children and young people had been identified as being involved in County Lines or possessing drugs with intent to supply and the Youth Justice Service worked closely with the Police in such cases.

The Chairman noted the Engage project would go live at the start of 2023 and asked that an update be provided to the next meeting of the Committee on 1 February 2022.

RESOLVED: That the Portfolio Holder be recommended to endorse the half-yearly report.