Police and Crime Bill does not factor in needs of children, YOT managers argue

The Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill, which is currently passing through parliament, contains a number of clauses relating to children and young people.

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These included “stronger" youth community sentencing options, including greater use of location monitoring and longer daily curfews, providing "robust" alternatives to custody, according to the Home Office.

However, in a response to the bill submitted to the government, the AYM has accused the Home Office of overlooking the “significant needs of young people in the youth justice system”.

The association also raises concerns over fears some clauses in the bill could “adversely affect” some groups including non-white British children and children in care.

“This bill does not take into account the significant needs of children within the justice system and does not recognise the impact this will have on equality for all children and could lead to significant groups of children being adversely affected,” the response states.

It also highlights concerns over proposals made in the bill for 17-year-olds facing custodial sentences to be treated as adults.

“This is in contradiction to all the other legislation relevant to children and is a move away from a distinct youth justice system for children,” the AYM states.

In a newsletter to AYM members, chair of the association Hazel Williamson, says that she provided evidence on the bill to the public bill committee.

“We are concerned that the bill will increase the numbers of custodial sentences, increase pressures on youth offending teams with extended intensive supervision and surveillance and intensive fostering requirements, and we are particularly worried about the impact on our black, Asian and Minority ethnic children,” she says.

Williamson adds that during the evidence sessions so-called “cliff-edge sentencing” was raised, criticising comments made by youth justice minister Alex Chalk, who took on the position in March.

“Concerningly the minister for youth justice, Alex Chalk, expressed a view that assessments within pre-sentence reports which consider maturity would be sufficient to support sentencing of these children. 

“However, due to the nature of probation provision, such sentences mean that children sentenced in this way are unable to benefit from the range of sentences designed and delivered in a way that takes account of their delayed development and maturity,” Williamson states.

Last week, Labour MP for Rotherham Sarah Champion called on the government to use the bill to create a legal definition of child criminal exploitation.