Agenda item

*Clerk’s note – The Panel agreed to amend the order of the agenda so that Item 10 on Reducing the Criminalisation of Children would be taken immediately following Item 7. The minutes reflect the order that the items were discussed during the meeting rather than the order that they were listed on the published agenda.*

The Panel received a report from the AD for Early Help and Prevention which was set out in the agenda pack at pages 51-83. The report provided an update on work that was taking place to reduce the criminalisation of young people that was taking place in partnership with a range of stakeholders. The following arose from the discussion of the report:

a.    The Panel noted that the authority had a key role to play in identification and early intervention with young people through the Haringey Youth Justice Service. Out of Court disposals provided an opportunity for community panels to work with young people and their families to put in place a package of support to prevent further entrenchment within the criminal justice system.

b.    In response to a query, officers advised that there was always a tension in the system between punishing offenders and improving outcomes for a cohort of young people who are often vulnerable and may have undergone significant trauma during their lives.

c.    Officers offered to invite panel members to a youth justice session where they could explore a range of examples of some of the work undertaken around restorative justice. (Action: Gill Gibson).

d.    In response to a question around staffing levels in 2010 compared to present, officers agreed to come back with this information. (Action: Gill Gibson).

e.    The Panel sought to highlight the correlation between school exclusions and criminal behaviour and gang membership in later life. The Panel enquired what was being done around exclusions and how this linked into the Young People at Risk Strategy. Concerns were also raised by the Panel around a failure of schools to change behaviours and lack of awareness of different cultural factors. In response, officers acknowledged the issue of unconscious bias within the criminal justice system. Officers advised that there was an exclusions review underway and that work was also being done around alternative provision. Officers advised that they had a role in challenging schools around exclusions but that it was ultimately up to the schools. The Panel was advised that schools had been engaged with around the development of the Young People at Risk strategy.

f.     In response to a question, officers advised that an analysis done of the 20 most prolific offenders showed a significant amount of trauma from a young age, such as domestic violence. Those traumas went unaddressed throughout their childhood and the system responded to negative behaviour through exclusions which ultimately led to the further rejection of an already vulnerable young person. Discussions with police around adopting a trauma informed approved had been positive.

g.    In response to further questions, officers acknowledged the role of language issues. The Panel were advised that additional health checks for children had been introduced with the provision of some Speech and Language Therapy available to the service.

h.    In response to concerns raised about the scale of County Lines operations, officers acknowledged that this was a national issue and that young people from Haringey were known to be involved in operations across the UK. Officers advised that the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub shared information on those involved and that funding had been successfully secured from MOPAC for a prevention fund.

RESOLVED

That the Panel noted the contents of the report.