As part of a review by the Department of Communities and LocalGovernment (DCLG), 18 local government performance indicators, includingNational Indicator 46, which measures young offenders' access tosuitable accomodation, have been quietly dropped to save money. It isthe only one of the 18 that directly affects children and youngpeople.
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) required all youth offending teams (YOTs)to report on how local authorities were meeting their duties underindicator 46. But as a result of it being dropped, a move initiated bythe Labour government, this will no longer be the case.
The YJB warns the decision will make it difficult for YOTs to get thenecessary resources to collect evidence to secure funding forresettlement projects from the government's Supporting PeopleProgramme.
A YJB spokeswoman said interim measures are being developed to collectrelevant data while the organisation holds a review into performance onrecording accommodation with YOTs.
Andrew Neilson, assistant director at the Howard League for PenalReform, said: "Any tool the YJB can muster to get a sense of the pictureof resettlement and ways local authorities are working with children introuble with the law is important. The fact we have seen something likethis happen indicates the YJB was either consulted and ignored or notconsulted."
YJB chief executive John Drew said: "Ensuring young people who haveoffended have access to suitable accommodation is a key priority for theYJB and government."
