CC(3)-YJ-12
Communities and Culture Committee
Scrutiny Inquiry – Youth Justice in Wales
Response from: Police Authorities of Wales
Police Authorities of Wales
Communities and Culture Committee Inquiry into Youth Justice: Welsh Children in the Secure Estate
Introduction
1. The Police Authorities of Wales (PAW) welcomes the opportunity to provide evidence to the Communities and Culture Committee as part of its Inquiry into Youth Justice: Welsh Children in the Secure Estate.
2. Police Authorities of Wales (PAW) is a representative body of the four Police Authorities in Wales: Gwent Police Authority, Dyfed-Powys Police Authority, North Wales Police Authority and South Wales Police Authority. The main aims of PAW are to:
Consider and act upon issues affecting policing in Wales, particularly those that are under the control of the National Assembly for Wales.
Maintain a broad Welsh prospectus on police matters.
Promote and protect the interests of member Authorities.
Seek to influence the policing agenda at a national level on behalf of Police Authorities and local communities in Wales.
Support Police Authorities in securing efficient and effective policing services across Wales.
Enable Police Authorities to improve.
Promote awareness of policing needs and the role and achievements of Police Authorities.
Uphold and champion the principles of local accountability and policing by consent.
3. As an overview Police Authorities have a statutory responsibility for:
Ensuring the police provide an efficient and effective service.
Setting the local policing priorities based on consultation with local people.
Managing the police budget including setting the police part of the council tax in consultation with local people.
Recruitment of the Chief Constable and the Chief Officers
Monitoring police performance, holding the Chief Constable to account on behalf of the public.
Ensuring that the Chief Constable delivers a police service that balances both national strategic priorities with the concerns of local people.
Monitoring complaints against the police.
Promoting equality and good relations between different groups of people. Informing people of their rights if they are stopped and searched by the police.
Inquiry into Youth Justice: Welsh Children in the Secure Estate
4. Police Authorities of Wales (PAW) supports the key principle set out in the All Wales Youth Offending Strategy (AWYOS), namely, that the most effective way to prevent youth offending and to secure the welfare of children and young people is to stop them entering the Youth Justice System (YJS) in the first place. The four Police Authorities and Forces in Wales are all engaged in a range of preventative programmes aimed at preventing offending and/or re-offending amongst children and young people. The Welsh Authorities, for example, continue to provide funds towards the All Wales School Liaison Programme which aims to deter children and young people from behaviour that may lead to involvement with the YJS.
5. When children and young people do enter the YJS, however, the use of custody should be a measure of last resort and/or reserved for the most serious of offences. An instance where the use of custody as a last resort may be appropriate is where there is repeated non-compliance with a community sentence. This is an important aspect in terms of increasing community confidence in the Justice System. It is important, however, that it all cases, the use of custody is accompanied by appropriate systems and programmes of rehabilitation, support and resettlement.
6. It is imperative that young offenders in custody receive appropriate support in terms of education and training advice; the provision of appropriate accommodation upon release; access to substance misuse treatment designed for children and young people; and specialist mental health provision. The focus on these priority areas for all children and young people in the YJS within the refreshed AWYOS Delivery Plan 2009 - 2011 is an important recognition of this.
7. A particular issue for young offenders receiving custodial sentences has been the lack of places in the Secure Estate in Wales. The number of children and young people held in custody outside of Wales has decreased in recent years. In 2001 just 5% of offenders were held in Wales, but this increased to just over 50% in 2009. This is a significant improvement however further progress needs to be achieved so that all Welsh children held in custody are held in Wales. The continued lack of any provision in North Wales is also a matter which requires urgent action.
8. The placement of offenders in England is problematic for a number of reasons. The provision of secure accommodation close to home minimises the likelihood of harm to young people. Furthermore, children and young people who are held in custody in England can face difficulties in accessing the Welsh curriculum and in particular careers advice, which is exacerbated where the individual is a first language Welsh speaker.
9. In order to help ensure appropriate support for children and young people in the Secure Estate, it is imperative that Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) policy on youth justice is joined up across all of relevant policy areas. The need for an holistic approach to address youth offending was set out in the AWYOS, and the new Delivery Plan 2009 - 2011 will hopefully help to ensure that delivery of the Strategy will align more clearly with other policy strategies and plans.
10. Similarly, it is important that youth offending is considered jointly across local strategic partnerships such as the Community Safety Partnerships, Children and Young People Partnerships and Health and Well-Being Partnerships.
11. PAW believes that the partial devolution of youth justice matters can sometimes result in a confusing landscape for stakeholders in Wales, particularly those which are non-devolved services such as policing.
Conclusion
12. Police Authorities of Wales is grateful for the opportunity to provide evidence to the Communities and Culture Committee as part of its Inquiry into Youth Justice: Welsh Children in the Secure Estate and hopes that the above is helpful. PAW would be happy, however, to elaborate or provide further information which may be of benefit. Should this be required, first contact should be made with our Policy Officer:
Ms Rachel Morgan
Welsh Local Government Association
Local Government House
Drake Walk
Cardiff
CF10 4LG
Tel: 029 20 468651
Email: Rachel.Morgan@wlga.gov.uk
