Agenda item

Sheri Jiwany-Burnett, Service Manager - Operational Delivery, gave a verbal update on disproportionality at the meeting and gave a presentation at the meeting. 

It was noted that a thematic inspection took place in May 2021 over a period of 4 days, as one of 9 boroughs selected, specifically to understand mixed heritage and black boys. The results of the inspection of all 9 boroughs would be combined into one report which was due to be released in September/October 2021. The key lines of enquiry looked at were governance and leadership. The format of the inspection had been kept within the youth justice service, management and focus groups. Overall, the feedback from the inspection had been positive and it was recognised that leadership supported a culture of change within the youth justice service regarding disproportionality, which had happened over a number of years.

Officers responded to questions from the Committee:

• It was confirmed that the parenting support was for the parents of young people that offend. There was now a virtual space for parents to get support.
• In response to a question regarding school exclusions, particularly at secondary school level, it was stated that there had been a new steering group set up which focused on exclusions of young people and how these could be prevented, with a partnered approach. Ann Graham added that the exclusions group was a sub-group of the Black and Asian Minority Attainment Group. The group was working on a model of change, looking at an alternative provision strategy. The overall vision was to get to a position of zero exclusions.
• The Committee were supportive of changing the language used to ‘disparity’.
• If resources were not an issue, Sheri Jiwany-Burnett stated that she would like to have the opportunity to work closely with the Metropolitan Police at Hendon to look at how they understand adolescents, as there was a need for a wholesale approach across agencies to address the issue of disproportionality.

It was noted that there was a pilot for knife crime prevention orders, aligned to anti-social behaviour orders, which focused on knife crime. Concern was raised that these orders could be placed on a child based on police intelligence, not on criminal offence. Concern was also raised that this could have an impact on racial disparity, specifically against young men, with the maximum penalty being two years in prison. Sheri Jiwany-Burnett stated that she would be challenging this and providing comments to the Home Office.

The Chair requested that a report on stop and search come to a future meeting. ACTION.

Discussion took place regarding early interventions and whether offenders could be identified at an early age, as part of the early years review. In response, Ann Graham referred to the 20 most prolific offenders work that had previously been undertaken. It was felt that providing speech and language support at an early age was essential and that the service was working with the CCG and the Borough Plan to get additional resources for this vital support. This would allow young people to express themselves at an early age.