Youth justice: Youth policies to be brought into line

Earlier this week Baroness Scotland told delegates at a conference on Reducing custody for young people who offend, organised by crime-reduction charity Nacro: What we are trying very hard to do now is get the two agendas to work together. Many of those that come before the courts for antisocial behaviour issues are not first-time offenders, they are very well known to the Youth Justice Board.

Some delegates felt the Governments hard line on antisocial behaviour is at odds with its aim of reducing the number of young people in custody. John Fassenfelt, chair of the Youth Courts Committee of the Magistrates Association, said: Magistrates are influenced by what the Government says. We sometimes find that the Government is not talking with a consistent voice, particularly in the area of antisocial behaviour.