MINUTES of the COMBINED YOUTH JUSTICE STANDING CONFERENCE held at The Police Authority Offices, West Gate Chambers, Staple Gardens, Winchester on Wednesday 24 March 2004

PRESENT

Hampshire County Council

Councillor Mrs P. Peskett (Vice Chairman)

Portsmouth City Council

Councillor Mrs C.J. Lowndes

Probation Board

Mrs A.F. Valentine

Youth Court Chairmen

Mr T. Drake JP

Mr E.P. Holmes JP

Mrs R. Behan JP

District Council Representatives

Councillor Mrs M Kerley (Test Valley Borough Council)

Councillor A Claxton (East Hampshire District Council)

Also in attendance

Mrs G. Houlbrook - Deputy Youth Court Chairman

Councillor Mrs P. Banks - Hampshire County Council

P.J. Sutton - Head of Youth Offending Services

Ms J.P. Parkes - Wessex YOT

G.W. Wright - Social Services (Hampshire County Council)

S.Gallimore - Social Services (Portsmouth City Council)

Mrs S.J. Durrant - Education Department (Hampshire County Council)

Mrs S.Wade - Private Consultant to the Chairman of the Wessex YOT Partnership

Ms B..Swyer - National Probation Service

Chief Inspector M.Dulson - Hampshire Constabulary

Apologies

D.Boyle - Probation Board (Chairman)

Councillor Mrs E.M.F. Randall - Hampshire County Council

Councillor R.W. Harris - Southampton City Council

Councillor Mrs M.D. Snaith - Hampshire Police Authority.

I. Piper - Primary Care Trust

Ms M. Thomas - Social Services (Southampton City Council)

Ms P. Grimshaw - Social Services (Isle of Wight Council)

R. Faulkner - Education (Isle of Wight Council)

A.Hough - Education Department (Portsmouth City Council)

Ms E. Hale - Hampshire Health Authority

Mrs C.Murray - Hampshire Magistrates Committee

(In the absence of the Chairman, Councillor Mrs P Peskett (Vice Chairman) took the chair for the meeting).

8. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

The Chairman welcomed those in attendance and in particular welcomed the newly appointed district representatives from Test Valley Borough Council and East Hampshire District Council, the newly appointed Assistant Director of Social Services for Portsmouth City Council and the Chairman of Hampshire Social Care Policy Review Committee (PRC).

The Chairman also took this opportunity to record thanks to the former Chairman of the Standing Conference, Councillor R. Harris who had been Chairman for the past three years. Members were also informed that this would be the last meeting for Mrs A.F. Valentine who would be stepping down from her position on the Probation Board with effect from 1 April 2004. Members thanked her for her professional dedication over the many years that she had sat on the Standing Conference. It was also noted that this would be the last meeting for Chief Inspector M. Dulson who would be retiring from the Police force in June 2004. Members thanked Chief Inspector Dulson for his dedication and commitment over a number of years.

9. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 24 March 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Vice Chairman.

Matters arising thereof:

Minute No. 4 - Youth Justice Plan 2002/05 - The Head of the Youth Offending Service was pleased to report that the National Probation Service had agreed a 3% increase to their annual contribution to the YOT and that the pool budgetary arrangements had been completed.

In relation to the suggestion about Defence Solicitors, the Head of the Youth Offending Services reported that the Criminal Defence Service had invited the YOT to make a presentation in May 2004 outlining the various options available other than custody.

It was also reported that SOVA, the organisation which provides services on behalf of Wessex YOT had been invited to attend the September meeting of the Standing Conference.

The Chairman also took this opportunity to draw members attention to the PLUS strategy concerned with raising the literacy and numeracy levels of young people in the Youth Justice System in order to prevent crime and re-offending. A copy of the leaflet was available for information.

10 TREATMENT OF YOUNG PRISONERS AGED 18-21 YEARS.

The Standing Conference received a detailed presentation from Ms B Swyre, Director of Commissioning, National Probation Service outlining how young adult prisoners are dealt with in custody. The presentation focused on:

· The current situation both nationally and locally

· Prison service provision for young prisoner institutes

· Resettlement experiences in Hampshire

· Further issues present and future.

In particular the presentation highlighted that the national population of young adult prisoners (18-20 years) had seen a proportional rise and in particular the number of female young adult prisoners had increased by 39% over the last 5 years.

The population figures for Hampshire and Isle of Wight as at 1 April 2004 were stated as:

· Number of young men in custody 212

· Number of young women in custody 18

· Total 230

(a further 134 young adult prisoners were being supervised in the community)

The presentation also gave a national breakdown of offences for prisoners and were summarised as follows:

· 35% - theft and robbery

· 7% - drugs

· 11% - motoring

· 26% - violence

· 21% - other crimes (i.e. fine defaulters and sex offences)

The presentation also outlined the length of sentences for both male and female young prisoners and it was noted that women were staying in custody for longer than previous periods.

The presentation also opened up discussion about the proximity of youth offender institutions to the homes of the young offenders. In particular it was highlighted that some male offenders were being transported 100+ miles which posed significant problems for friends and families who wished to make visits.

The presentation also highlighted some recent resettlement experiences in Hampshire and the various multi-agency strategies aimed at securing employment, education and accommodation.

RESOLVED:

That Ms Barbara Swyre, Director of Commissioning National Probation Service be thanked for both an interesting and informative presentation.

11. MAPPING PATTERNS OF YOUTH CRIME IN WESSEX

The Standing Conference received a detailed presentation from Ms. S.Wade, a private consultant to the Chairman of the Wessex YOT Partnership.

It was explained that detailed mapping research using Police and YOT databases had been undertaken to ascertain the level of crime per 1,000 children (or part thereof).

The findings of the research had identified various trends in juvenile crime across electoral wards including an increase in violence attributed to alcohol misuse and it was considered that further investigation of possible reasons for the findings be undertaken.

RESOLVED:

That Sue Wade, Private Consultant to the Chairman of the Wessex YOT Partnership be thanked for both an interesting and informative presentation.

12. WORKING WITH YOUTH OFFENDERS AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE

The Standing Conference received a presentation from Ms J. P. Parkes, Substance Misuse Worker at the Basingstoke YOT.

The presentation centred on real life case studies of young people who were either dependent on drugs or alcohol and had committed crimes to feed their addictions. The presentation highlighted the ways the YOT could help these young people and the various initiatives available to support these young people.

RESOLVED:

That Ms J. P. Parkes, Substance Misuse Worker at the Basingstoke YOT be thanked for both an interesting and informative presentation.

13. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE YOUTH OFFENDING TEAM 2003

The Standing Conference considered the report of the Head of Youth Offending Services (Item 6 in the Minute Book) setting out the performance of the Partnership in relation to national performance measures.

It was noted that at the request of the Chairman future performance reports would be submitted to the meetings of the Standing Conference.

Overall the performance data indicated a significant improvement on national targets although there were still some areas of weakness such as increasing the numbers of young people receiving educational training and help with obtaining secure accommodation.

During discussion of the performance measures, Inspector M. Dulson commented that the YOT members of staff should be congratulated on the hard work carried out especially over the last 12 months to achieve the performance targets.

RESOLVED:

(i) That an updated performance report be submitted to future meetings of the Standing Conference.

(ii) That YOT members of staff be congratulated for their hard work carried out over the last 12 months to achieve the national performance targets.

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