Labour Party Conference: Devolve youth offending budgets, says shadow justice secretary

Speaking at a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester, Khan said he agreed with an assertion made by London's deputy mayor for policing Stephen Greenhalgh that youth justice budgets should be transferred to councils.?

"We have got to devolve budgets and power down," Khan said.?

"Stephen [Greenhalgh] is in a better position to deal with the issues of London than [Home Secretary] Theresa May and her civil servants."?

"Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Coventry and other places should have more devolved powers.?

"For the foreseeable future money is going to be tight, which is why devolution is important."?

However Khan did warn that devolution risks resulting in different levels of service and quality of provision in different areas.?

"We need proper minimum standards [in order to guard against that]," he said.?

London Mayor Boris Johnson has previously indicated that he is keen for youth justice powers to be handed to the capital and a triennial review of the Youth Justice Board called for Youth Justice Advisory Panel system to that in Wales be established to respond better to issues in London.

Khan also said a Labour government would look to take affirmative action to recruit greater numbers of black and ethnic minority officers – potentially introducing recruitment targets for forces – as part of efforts to improve relations with young people.?

"My starting point is my experience growing up in London," Khan said.?

"I always saw police as a foe rather than a friend – they were the police 'force', not the police 'service'.?

"You would cross the road if you saw them to not be searched or frisked.?

"There is a huge problem with a lack of black and Asian officers."?

He also emphasised his commitment to 'community-based policing', stating that officers are better able to build relationships with young people and know what is happening in their area if they work within the community on a regular basis.