Issue - meetings

To receive an update from the Director of Children’s Services on the Hampshire Youth Offending Team.

The Committee received a report and presentation from the Director of Children’s Services providing an overview of how work of Hampshire’s Youth Offending Team (YOT) during 2021/22.

The Committee heard how Hampshire YOT is a statutory partnership which provides youth justice services for the Hampshire Local Authority Area. The team’s role is defined by the Crime and Disorder Act 1986 to prevent offending and reoffending by children. The four partners with statutory responsibility for youth offending are the Local Authority, Police, Probation and Health (CCGs). The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, part of the Ministry of Justice provides oversight and support.

The Panel noted the staffing structure of Hampshire’s YOT and received an overview of the team’s performance which was assessed as ‘Good’ in 2018, with a target of ‘Outstanding’ at the next inspection in 2024. Members noted the priorities of the YOT going forwards and the expectations of the Youth Justice Plan being confirmed later in the year.

In response to questions members found that:

·         There was a variety of preventative work the YOT undertook, such as that focussed on reducing the risk of young people witnessing domestic violence.

·         The County had recently had success in Basingstoke tackling a youth gang via a ‘Youth Gang Injunction’, however these are difficult to obtain due to the threshold of proof required to identify a group as a ‘gang’.

·         One of the YOT’s most important priorities is reducing the racial disparity, which often requires close working with partner agencies.

RESOLVED:

The Children and Young People Select Committee note the positive work of Hampshire YOT during the last 12 months.