Metropolitan Police Youth Strategy

Report: 9
Date: 13 May 2004
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides feedback from the MPS Strategic Committee on the Youth Strategy, action plan and policies. It particularly concentrates on the consultation routes that have been used.

A. Recommendation

That members note this report.

B. Supporting information

1. The MPS Youth Strategy is structured around the MPS policing model. It is based on the accumulated experience of the MPS working with young people and the many other agencies involved in addressing the needs of young people. In addition, it takes account of recent academic research into the nature and causes of youth involvement in crime. It seeks to draw together the various elements of activity, which are, or can be directed to dealing with children who are involved in crime either as victims or perpetrators, and to stimulate improved and better-targeted provision to ensure that more young people are diverted away from crime. Where such diversionary measures are not effective, the strategy seeks to ensure that the enforcement elements of the police and criminal justice agencies are more effective in minimising the trauma of victimisation and imposing effective sanctions to minimise the chances of reoffending.

2. The MPS Youth Strategy was launched in March 2003, and the draft Strategy was presented to the full Committee of the MPA in January 2003.

The strategy and action plan

3. The full action plan underpinning the strategy is attached at Appendix 1. The strategy and action Plan recognise that the MPS is restricted in what it is able to achieve in this important area of policing. Many of the services required by young people fall outside its direct remit. The work of the Crime & Disorder Partnerships, the various Criminal Justice agencies and the development of the strategy have provided a robust framework for future development.

4. The monitoring of the strategy and supporting action plan is a standing agenda item in the Strategic Steering Committee on Community Safety. This committee also oversees the review of existing policies as well as sponsoring new policies. Abdul Ullah has now succeeded Cecile Wright as the MPA representative on this Committee.

5. The consultation process to inform the development of the Youth Strategy was extensive.

6. Internally this consultation took place with the Diversity Directorate, Specialist Crime Directorate, Borough Commanders and lead officers for youth issues on all Boroughs, Safer Schools Officers, Child Protection lead officers and police officers working in Youth Offending Teams and with Volunteer Cadet Units across London. The MPA were also involved in this consultation process through key members.

7. Externally, the consultation took place with the London Children’s Commissioner, The Youth Justice Board, representatives from the ALG. The Department for Education and Skills were involved as was the Youth and Crime Unit at the Government Office for London. Representatives from the Voluntary Sector the London Youth Forum and the London Voluntary Services Council were asked to comment. The National Society for the Protection of Children were also involved in the consultation process. The Greater London Authority was also consulted.

8. The involvement of these key partners in the consultation processes informed the Strategy, which was agreed and with the MPS Management Board and the MPA full authority.

9. The action plan, based on the policing model, was then drafted and presented to the MPS Strategic Committee for agreement. This action plan is actively monitored through this committee, with management information placed onto the MPS Intranet site for Safer Neighbourhoods. The action plan was based on current practice nationally and linked closely in to other youth organisations action plans and processes.

10. The Strategic Committee has responsibility for the key policies in relation youth and Community Safety issues. Since March 2003 the Committee has reviewed the outstanding policies and reduced the number of policies from 53 to 17. These 17 have now been clustered into five key areas, Information exchange, Youth Justice, Youth and Community Safety, Anti Social Behaviour and Incidents in Schools.

11. A grid chart of the activities that have been undertaken across the MPS, and impacting on the MPS action plan has been captured at Appendix 2.

12. The proposed priorities for 2004 in relation to Young People have been drafted. These priorities will be presented to the next Strategic Committee in July (Appendix 3). The impact assessment for the MPS Strategy has been undertaken in relation to other outside Organisation’s strategies such as the Youth Justice Board and the GLA, (Appendix 4).

13. Each of the policies has a policy workbook to support and evidence the work the policy writer has undertaken in the policy formulation. A key component of any new policy involves consultation.

14. The consultation routes that have been used involve the key partners already identified at 4, but there will be greater effort directed towards meeting the needs of BME (Black and minority ethnic), LGBT groups and those with physical and mental disabilities. Staff associations have been contacted to facilitate introductions to key individuals. The feedback has been particularly relevant and timely for Disability Discrimination Act and race Relation Act issues. A key component is also the Health and Safety issues which support the Standard Operating Procedures to support the policy. A copy has been attached at Appendix 5.

15. The Youth Independent Advisory Group has been formed since the Strategy was published, and they are being consulted on the new priorities.

C. Race and equality impact

1. The consultation routes identified link closely in to lead practitioner experts who are in a position to identify additional consultation routes. The MPS cadet units, consisting of 700 young people aged 14 – 19, have a favourable gender mix and representation from BME communities. The Safer Schools programme offers wide representation to all young people across London. The Cadets and the young people in schools through the Safer Schools Officers were used in the consultation process to help to inform on the MPS priorities 2004 – 2005.

2. The Safer School programme is focused on those areas of the capital with higher than average BME populations. It is acknowledged that consequently there will be representation from a disproportionately high number of young people from BME backgrounds affected by the implementation. All officers undertaking this role have been trained on Community and Race Relations issues.

3. The extensive use of outside Partners Organisation’s (Para 4), and their knowledge plays a significant role on our consultation, particularly in relation to informing the MPS on the views of young people with particular needs. No direct consultation took place with young people with special needs. Part of the continuing consultation with young people with special needs is being reviewed.

4. The use of Restorative Justice Conferencing will enable those agencies engaged with the Safer Schools Partnership (SSP) to support the victims of crime while tackling offending behaviour without putting a disproportional number of young people through the Criminal Justice Programme.

D. Financial implications

1. There are four main components to the current investment in youth crime prevention; the costs of the Youth Policy Team itself, the costs of the police officers attached to Youth Offending Teams ad those officers deployed as part of the Safer Schools Partnership, or Schools involvement programme.

• Youth Policy Team (6 police officers and 1 police staff) £389,563
• Youth Offending Teams (66 police officers) £2,971,503
• Safer Schools Partnerships (100 Officers) £4,279,400
• Schools Involvement Programme (83 police officers) £3,551,902
• Total Opportunity Cost £11,192,368

2. All costs are currently absorbed within the overall MPS budgets. Funding for an additional 30 School Beat officers to link with the Safer Neighbourhoods programme is being introduced. This will increase the deployment of officers in schools, but a full evaluation from KPMG will be available in the summer of 2004.

3. The Home Office, Department for Education and Skills and Youth Justice Board has fully funded one site in the MPS, Wandsworth. In addition, the YJB have provided funding to cover evaluation, support and training for all SSP sites, which is due to end April 2005. The Home Office has agreed to allow the MPS to use £140K to develop an additional series of training materials, which will include five completed learning modules.

E. Background papers

• MPS Youth Strategy
• MPS Borough Action Plans
• MPS Corporate Action Plans

F. Contact details

Report author: Commander James Smith, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 3

Proposed priorities for 2004

Action 1

To ensure that the targeting of Persistent Young Offenders is a Borough

Policing objective by:

• Developing Borough Policing Objectives for Persistent Young Offenders.
• Prioritising PYO warrants.
• Ensuring that Curfew Orders are monitored and enforced.
• Maximising the fast tracking forensic opportunities regarding PYOs.

Action 2

To ensure that appropriate responses are in place at each stage of the Youth Justice System by:

• Conducting a review of procedures at Borough level.
• Establishing Protocol and Service Level Agreements with Key Partners.
• Establishing a monthly spreadsheet for the information of the Borough Senior Management Team.

Action 3

To maximise the use of the Borough Analyst to identify Youth Crime.

Action 4

To maximise training opportunities in order to ensure that Officers are aware of the Youth Justice process.

Action 5

To ensure that effective systems are in place to monitor youth offending by:

• Establishing a method of reviewing the data.
• Ensuring that the information is disseminated to officers.

Action 6

To ensure that support is given to Officers in YOTs and that police are represented at the YOT Strategic Steering group meetings.

Action 7

To work with key partners to meet the needs of each individual PYO by:

• Ensuring that a tracking system is in place to monitor PYOs through YOTs.
• Ensuring that Borough Intelligence Units are updated with information concerning PYOs.

Action 8

To establish a Service Level Agreement between YOTs, CPS and Youth Courts to ensure that bail conditions imposed on youth offenders are adhered to.

Action 9

In partnership with Local Authorities and schools conduct a yearly physical security check of all school premises and Pupil Referral Units by:

• Conducting surveys of schools and Pupil Referral Units.
• Assisting schools and Pupil Referral units to update their policy on security.
• Arranging training for staff and pupils.

Action 10

In partnership with Teachers, School Governors and Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) assist in the development and implementation of school policies by:

• Assisting with school polices in particular concerning anti-social behaviour.

Action 11

To ensure that officers employed on school duties and in YOTs are given support and supervision by:

• Monitoring the Job description for Officers.
• Carrying out risk assessments on Officers’ duties.
• Management support to be given to Officers by visiting YOTs and schools.

Action 12

To ensure that truancy sweeps are conducted in accordance with MPS policy.

Action 13

To establish effective relationship with schools and Local Authorities by:

• Identifying a system for monitoring and tracking excluded pupils.
• Identifying ways to support the provision of after school crime diversion activities.
• Targeting resources on transport routes to and from school premises in order to provide safer routes to and from school.

Action 14

In partnership with YOTs provide support for Youth Inclusion Programmes (YIPs) aimed at 13-16 year olds in 13 boroughs.

Action 15

To provide co-ordination and support for Youth Inclusion and Support Panels.

Action 16

Develop and optimise the use of Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) and Anti Social Behaviour Orders.

Action 17

To ensure that the needs of young victims are prioritised by:

• Establishing a protocol with victim support.
• Introducing victim awareness training for Officers.

Action 18

To ensure that monitoring and tracking systems are in place to meet the Government’s requirements by:

• Processing all youths (except PYOs) from arrest to charge, Warning or Reprimand within 28 days in 80% of cases.
• Ensuring that 80% of all youths referred to YOTs are offered diversionary opportunities.
• Ensuring that YOTs are informed by Fax within 4 hours of a Reprimand or Warning decision being made.

Action 19

To establish effective liaison with the Local Authority ART project (now ISA) both at strategic and operational levels.

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