Chris Stanley, head of Nacro's youth crime section, said Youth Inclusion & Support Panels, run by the Youth Justice Board, which are to be extended under the Home Office's five-year plan (News, 21-27 July), were not suitable for the under-10s.
"They should be left to child welfare agencies," he said. "Criminal justice agencies involving pre-10s can create problems about labelling these children as potential offenders. I have sympathy with the Youth Justice Board because it is trying to fill a gap. In some areas those (child welfare) services don't exist."
He hoped the establishment of children's trusts and information sharing and assessment systems could change the situation.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
