In a speech at the Association of Youth Justice Service Managers Conference last week (22 June), Fraser told delegates that the YJB is “concerned” that more children may enter the youth justice system due to the programme, which saw the recruitment of an additional 20,000 police officers in England and Wales between September 2019 and May this year.
Fraser said that the effects of the uplift were already emerging, including the challenge of having a “less experienced police service where a third of officers have less than five years of service”.
“In some areas we are concerned that this may lead to more children being drawn into the youth justice system,” he said.
“In itself, this will not improve community safety and may, in the longer term, be ineffective as we know that children who become involved in the criminal justice system are more likely to commit offences as adults.”
Fraser noted that while there are positives to having new officers, the volume of new recruits can make it more challenging to prioritise prevention and diversion.
“We need to think carefully about how we support the police to use the evidence we have about what works in a smart way, whilst balancing protecting the public,” he said.
He added that the longer sentences available through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act and high court backlogs may also cause more children to enter the youth justice system.
Fraser also highlighted a number of other concerns, including improvements to the court system for children aged 10 to 18, the need to continue a child-centred approach to policing, and education.
“We remain concerned about children missing, being excluded from education, or being electively home education as well as the system’s ability to meet the needs of children ith special educational needs and disabilities,” he said.
He added that the YJB has “significant concerns” about serious violence and child exploitation, saying: “Growing inequality, poverty, rising costs of living, the influence of social media and a health service under pressure all contribute to my fears that exploitation and serious violence will remain intractable issues.”
Fraser pledged to work with youth justice services and other key partners such as the Youth Endowment Fund, police and crime commissioners and Violence Reduction Units to ensure collective action on child exploitation and violence.
