Archived decisions

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

PRESENT

Hampshire County Council

Councillor Mrs P Peskett (Vice Chairman)

Portsmouth City Council

Councillor Mrs C Lowndes

Probation Board

Mrs A F Valentine

Youth Court Chairman

Mr T Drake JP

Mr E P Holmes JP

Mrs R Behan JP

Mrs G Houlbrook (Deputy in attendance)

Hiowla Representatives

Councillor Mrs M Kerley (Test Valley Borough Council)

Councillor A Claxton (East Hampshire District Council)

Also in attendance

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 Wade - Private Consultant to the Chairman of the Wessex YOT Partnership

Ms B Swyer - Director of Commissioning National Probation Service

Chief Inspector M Dulson - Hampshire Constabulary

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

Apologies

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)

D Boyle - Probation Board

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 Heskett (Vice Chairman) took the chair for the meting).

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. She also welcomed to the meeting the newly appointed Assistant Director of Social Services for Portsmouth City Council and Councillor Mrs P Banks, Chairman of the Social Care PRC (Hampshire County Council). The Chairman also took this opportunity to record thanks to the former Chairman of the Committee, Councillor R Harris who had been Chairman for three years. The Committee were also informed that this would be the last meeting for Angela Valentine, Probation Board who would be stepping down from her position on the Probation Board with effect from 1st April 2004. The Committee thanked Angela for her professional dedication over the many years that she had sat on this Committee. The Committee also noted that this would be the last meeting for Inspector M Dulson who would be retiring from the police service in June 2004. Again the Committee thanked Inspector Dulson for his dedication and commitment to the Committee over a number of years.

9. MINUTES

    The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 24th 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. He also reported that the pool budgetary arrangements had now been completed. In relation to the suggestion about defence solicitors encouraging alternatives to custody, the Head of the Youth Offending Services was pleased to report that the Criminal Defence Service had invited him to make a presentation in May 2004 outlining the various options available to defence solicitors. 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 conference. The Chairman also took this opportunity to draw the Committee's attention to the PLUS strategy about raising the literacy and numeracy levels of young people in the Youth Justice System in order to prevent crime and reoffending. A copy of the leaflet was available for members to take away for reading in their spare time.

5. TREATMENT OF YOUNG PRISONERS AGED 18-21 YEARS.

    The Committee 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:

    1. The current situation - nationally

    2. The current situation - locally

    3. Prison service provision for young prisoners institutes

    4. Resettlement experiences in Hampshire

    5. Further issues present and future.

    In particular the presentation highlighted that the 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. It was considered that this pointed to an issue of how young women were being sentenced. The population figures for Hampshire and Isle of Wight as at 1st April 2004 were stated as:

    1. Number of young men in custody - 212

    2. Number of young women in custody - 18

    3. Total - 230 (a further 134 young adult prisoners were being supervised in the community)

    The presentation also gave a breakdown of offences for prisoners and this is summarised as follows:

    1. 35% - theft and robbery

    2. 7% - drugs

    3. 11% - motoring

    4. 26% - violence

    5. 21% - other crimes (i.e. fine defaulters and sex offences)

    The presentation also outlined in chart format the length of sentences for both male and female young prisoners and again it was apparent that women were now staying in custody for longer than previous periods. The presentation also opened up discussions 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 138 miles away or into other regions which posed significant problems for the families of the young offenders. It was noted that there was very limited financial assistance for the families to visit young offenders in custody.

    The presentation also highlighted some resettlement experiences in Hampshire and the positive links with organisations such as NACRO and drugs services etc. Local initiatives aimed at 18 - 20 year olds (intensive control and change programmes) were being targeted at those who may have gone to prison. It was however noted that such a facility was not available for young offenders coming out of prison.

    The resettlement initiatives for young offenders leaving custody were also explained in detail. A number of multi-agency strategies aimed at gaining employment and educational opportunities together with housing issues were being drawn up.

    The Committee were informed that the following factors helped in reducing the re-offending rates:

    1. Employment

    2. Accommodation

    3. Staying at home in the family unit especially for young men until the age of 25 years

Resolved

    That Ms Barbara Swyre, Director of Commissioning National Probation Service be thanked for her presentation to the Committee.

6. MAPPING PATTERNS OF YOUTH CRIME IN WESSEX

    The conference received a detailed presentation from Sue Wade, a private consultant to the Chairman of the Wessex Youth Offending Team 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 unusual trends in juvenile crime across wards and I was considered that further investigation of possible reasons for the findings such as youth club opening times 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.

7. WORKING WITH YOUTH OFFENDERS AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE

    The conference received a presentation from Jane 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 such as counselling and support available to these young people.

    Resolved

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

8. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE YOUTH OFFENDING TEAM 2003

    The 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 of the conference 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 for their needs.

    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

    1. That an updated performance report be submitted to future meetings of the standing conference.

    2. 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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