Youth justice communications network launches
Neil Puffett
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
An 18-month youth justice project to provide a secure communications network across more than 200 sites in England and Wales has been completed.
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) claims the network will allow youth justice professionals to share information in order to make better-informed decisions.
It links up young offenders institutions with courts and other youth justice practitioners.
Secure "crypto boxes" have been set up at each location, linked to a hub ensuring restricted level security for communications between people and organisations.
The network replaces a previous system that relied heavily on fax transmissions and hand delivery of files.
Mike Mackay, chief information officer at the YJB, said: "With the network operating, the correct information can be where it needs to be to make sure that decisions on young offenders are appropriate and timely. This is incredibly valuable to us today and moving forward."
