A report providing information on the Youth Justice Annual Plan 2023/24.

The Committee received a report on the Youth Justice Plan 2023-24.  The report explained that the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and a condition of the Youth Justice Board Grant, had placed a duty on the Local Authority to produce an annual Plan.  The Plan had been produced and signed off by the Youth Justice Partnership through the Youth Justice Management Board, which was independently chaired. The plan reported the performance of Youth Justice Service (previously the Youth Offending Service) for 2022/23 against the national and statistical family comparators in the period. 

The Youth Justice Plan also highlighted achievements and work with parents and children within the service. It also outlined the Youth Justice Service implementation of the Child First approach understood as the framework for those working with young people in the criminal justice service.

A peer review had been requested by the Youth Justice Board, had taken place in November 2022 and recommendations were also incorporated into the plan.  The plan had also incorporated information on the youth justice cohort for 2021-23.

The annual report identified the following areas as priorities for 2023-24:

• Reducing first time entrants into the criminal justice system
• Addressing disproportionality within the justice system
• Reducing the impact of serious violence
• The increased participation and engagement of children, young people and their families in the service.

It was reported that the Youth Justice Management Board had oversight of the plan and performance against the targets, and these were reported through the mechanisms of the management board structure.

During the discussion it was noted that the Youth Justice Management Board recognised work needed to be undertaken regarding the disproportionality in the numbers of black children that were open to the Youth Justice Service and were stopped/searched.  It was also noted that there were dedicated roles within the Youth Justice Service to support restorative justice.  Work was also being developed through the Turnaround programme within the service to ensure young people were offered support and interventions.

Resolved –   That the content of the Youth Justice Plan be noted.