But the evidence gathered by the Home Affairs Committee suggests herblindfold often slips when it comes to young Black people. Black peoplemake up 2.7 per cent of the 10- to 17-year-olds in England and Wales,yet account for 8.5 per cent of arrests involving this age group.
Social exclusion and bias in the criminal justice system play a role,although the committee's evidence suggests progress has been made onthis. The committee also identifies social exclusion as a key problemand wants Government action, such as working with supplementary schoolsor improved drugs rehabilitation services.
Another worthwhile recommendation is for Government to work more closelywith voluntary groups. The MPs are right to call for the Government toput more money into such groups, which can often connect withcommunities and young people better than state agencies. But thecommittee failed to mention the way groups are given money is asimportant as the amount. Commissioning that stifles groups' creativitycan limit their effectiveness. Central and local government must ensurecommissioning does not prevent groups delivering results.
The committee was also right to reject Nacro's call for a target to cutthe number of young Black people in the criminal justice system (seenews, p4).
Such a target risks creating an incentive to let crime go unpunished.Rather than reducing inequality between Black and non-Black offenders,it could encourage the justice system to ignore lesser crimes by Blackoffenders to meet a Government target. Setting abstract targets toreduce the number of young Black people in custody or arrested risks abroken justice system.
Work must ensure the system as a whole treats young Black people fairly.But the criminal justice system must deal with those accused of a crimeequally and on a case-by-case basis, rather than focusing on makingnational statistics more palatable.
