*Croydon Youth Justice Plan shows success in reducing re-offending
Croydon's Youth Justice Plan is demonstrating significant success in reducing re-offending rates, with the borough's proven re-offending rate standing at 29.1%, which is lower than the London average of 30.4% and the national average of 32.1%. This positive outcome was highlighted in a review by the Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee.
The service, which worked with 269 children in the previous year, continues to see reductions in re-offending. Councillor Ola Kolade, Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety & Justice, attributed the plan's success to its emphasis on early intervention and diversion.
Early Intervention and Diversion Strategies
Croydon's Youth Justice Plan employs a multi-faceted approach to early intervention and diversion. These strategies include:
- Prevention and Diversion Panel: A panel involving Youth Justice, MASH, the police, early help, and health services is being established to identify and support children who come into contact with the system but haven't formally entered it. This panel is likely to meet weekly and will ensure children are assigned to appropriate resources and services.
- Turnaround Project: This Ministry of Justice-funded project works with children on the periphery of entering the criminal justice system who are not subject to statutory social care interventions. It focuses on a whole family approach and has shown a 90% success rate in diverting children from formal entry into the youth justice system. The project has secured funding until April 2030, and its success has been noted nationally.
- Engage Project: Attached to the local Police custody suite, this project aims to identify children unknown to services following arrest, ensuring they access resources to prevent future contact with the system.
- Out of Court Resolutions: The service is increasing its use of out-of-court resolutions, including Youth Conditional Cautions and 'Outcome 22' resolutions (Police deferring prosecution), offering diversionary options.
- Restorative Justice: A dedicated restorative justice team and practitioners work with victims to ensure their voices are heard and their requests are addressed through interventions such as formal and informal restorative conferences, shuttle mediation, and letters of explanation.
- Collaboration with Voluntary Community Sector (VCS): The service works closely with VCS organizations like Legacy Youth Club, BME Forum, Palace for Life Foundation, and Amina Youth to provide alternative activities, mentoring, and support within children's local communities.
Addressing Fluctuations in Re-offending Rates
While the overall trend shows a reduction in re-offending, the committee noted fluctuations. Emma Carter, Service Manager of the local Youth Justice Service, explained that re-offending rates are measured centrally by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) over sustained periods. Current snapshots can show peaks and troughs attributed to various factors. These can include the impact of events like the COVID-19 pandemic and summer holidays, as well as increased policing in certain areas, which can influence data.
Reducing Custody and Managing Risk
The reduction in the use of custody was also highlighted as a significant success. Emma Carter explained that the service employs creative approaches to ensure sentences include conditions that manage risk within the community, with custody being a last resort. These creative approaches can include relocation with families, exclusions, curfews, and non-associations, working with partners to create comprehensive packages that ensure the safety of children and others. Currently, only two children are on remand.
Demographics and Offence Categories
The 269 children engaged with the Youth Justice Service in the previous year included 231 boys and 37 girls. The demographic breakdown reveals that Black and mixed heritage boys are over-represented within the cohort. Specifically, 27% of the cohort were Black and mixed heritage children, with Black children making up approximately 49% of the caseload. These groups are also more likely to be stopped and searched.
The 'Violence Against the Person' offense category is the highest for the service's cohort, encompassing offenses from common assault to threats to kill. For females, these are typically lower gravity offenses like common assault or ABH, while males tend to be involved in more serious forms of offending. Robbery and Possession with Intent to Supply are also significant offense types within Serious Youth Violence.
Furthermore, 55% of the service's cohort had identified Special Educational Needs (SEN), and 102 children received mental health or emotional support. Cannabis was the most prevalent substance used, often linked to exploitation, while alcohol use was more common in girls. The top 15 wards where children resided were detailed, with crime concentrations noted in the north and southeast of the borough, particularly the town centre and surrounding areas.
This comprehensive approach, focusing on early intervention, diversion, and community-based solutions, appears to be yielding positive results in Croydon's youth justice system.
For more detailed information, refer to the Public reports pack and Minutes of the meeting.