Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director for Children’s Services.

This report sets outs the achievements against last year’s plan and outlines the priorities, opportunities and challenges for the coming year.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to consider and comment on the report.

Officer contact: Jacqui Belfield-Smith, Service Lead, Youth Justice & Targeted Youth Support at jacqui.smith@stockport.gov.uk  (0161 474 4789).

The Director for Children’s Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the achievements against last year’s plan and outlined the priorities, opportunities and challenges for the coming year.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services & Education (Councillor Colin Foster) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Clarification was sought regarding the reduction in the use of custodial sentences and how was it quantified. In response, it was noted that there was a requirement in the Ministry of Justice to report on custody and it was not an intention to send children to custody un-necessarily and the child who were currently in custody was due to the offences committed and for their own safety and that of the community.

·         It was noted that the Stockport Custody sentences was the lowest in the Greater Manchester area.

·         It was noted that as advocates for scrutiny and democracy it was important that the Partnership Board received input from victims and offenders relating to youth crime regarding the process and outcomes. In response, it was noted that a company called “Remedy” were commissioned and a victim support officer and restorative justice officer are now based fulltime within the team and following contact with every victim reports are provided to the Board. It was also noted that regarding the voice of the child and family,  “Coram Voice” was also commissioned to provide youth justice provisions and also reports to the Board. Children and families were also consulted but don’t want to sit on the Partnership Board so a Shadow Board has been created to listen to the voice of the children and families.

·         It was commented that the Committee should consider inviting representatives from the team and the Partnership Board to speak to the Committee about the programme and victims and to provide data relating to how effective the programmes were and the data regarding repeat offenders

·         It was noted that the team kept data and tracked the young offenders and were involved in ‘community resolution’ programmes and ‘out of court disposals’ (cautions), which encouraged intervention at an earlier stage and monitoring and reviewing cases to prevent repeat offenders.

·         Concern was expressed regarding young people in secure accommodation and the distance of HMP Wetherby that put a strain and had an emotional impact on families.

·         Clarification was sought on whether there was a medium or long term plan for a facility to be built closer. In response it was noted that not all the children were in HMP Wetherby as some were in secure training centres and others in secure children homes. It was also noted that the Chair of the Youth Justice Board requested that secure schools be created in the north, similar to secure children’s homes with smaller numbers. However, following a bid to Government on behalf of Greater Manchester, it was agreed to have a secure children’s home built in the south. Northern organisations continue to make representation to the Government regarding smaller and closer facilities.

·         It was commented that there should be a target to reduce the number of children in custody and it should be as low as possible.

·         It was noted that the ‘voice of the children in police custody’ and ‘one to one’ interviews were on hold during the summer lockdown as such what lessons have been learned from the lockdown period. In response it was noted that contact continued with children throughout lockdown in terms of risk, vulnerability, safety and wellbeing which resulted in being a bit more adaptable and being able to manage the children and their vulnerabilities better.

·         Clarification was sought relating to the “On the Edge” strategy and its impact and success. In response, it was noted that since January 2019 when the programme started it has been delivered to over 6,000 children across Stockport including a roll out to Year 5 and 6 in Primary Schools and the knife-crime has been reduced in the Borough.

RESOLVED – That the Committee endorsed and recommended the Youth Justice Plan 2020/21.