Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

Part of the debate – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:00 pm on 18 October 2007.

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Bob Reitemeier: Are we confident that the Bill will lead to a decrease in custody, leading to the intensive nature of intervention? We want to stress to the Committee that we must look at the Bill in the context of the current political opportunity, in which there is joint accountability for youth justice by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Ministry of Justice. For that opportunity to be made real in a way that changes custody levels, the courts and the youth justice system must work closely and formally with the social services and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, through the children’s services directorates at local authority level. We should not anticipate a decrease in custody levels unless the youth justice system takes into account the welfare and the well-being of children in its determination of sentences and orders. That must take effect.

With regard to intensive fostering, I would focus on the word “intensive.” We all seek to change the behaviour of these young people and to reintegrate them into society in a productive way, and we know that that requires intensive engagement. Whether that is fostering or an intensive relationship through another order, such as an intensive supervision and surveillance programme, the intensive nature of treatment for prolific offenders—people with significant welfare and well-being needs—must be part of the system. If we do it properly, we will have an opportunity significantly to decrease the numbers of young people in custody.