Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 6
6
There is significant support for diversion and demand for informal, non-statutory services.
Recommendation
There is significant support for diversion and demand for informal, non-statutory services. For diversion schemes to function well, they need to be sufficiently funded. Investment in upstream service provision should be prioritised. We recommend that the Ministry of Justice work with the Youth Justice Board to review current funding arrangements and ensure that funding adequately reflects the pre-court diversionary work being carried out by youth offending teams. (Paragraph 46) Children and Young People in Custody (Part 1): Entry into the youth justice system 47
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
18. The YJB’s funding for YOTs makes up on average just under a third of the total funding YOTs receive. This money must be spent on the delivery of youth justice services, but how it is spent within that constraint is up to each YOT. Consequently, YOTs have the opportunity to spend this money to address specific local needs. The rest of YOT funding is provided by local authorities and partner agencies who also set YOT priorities in their area. These priorities are based on local need and outlined in their annual youth justice plan. 19. The YJB’s funding for YOTs for 2020/21 will be announced shortly and the Ministry of Justice has no current plans to review how we establish YOT funding levels. The spending review settlement has been negotiated during a challenging financial backdrop. In light of this, the Government would expect local authorities to prioritise activities to achieve optimum outcomes. 20. The principal aim of the youth justice system is to prevent offending. As such, we would expect an effective local authority, including its YOT, to focus a proportion of its efforts on preventing offending through activities such as pre-court diversionary work. 21. We recognise the importance of pre-court diversionary work and we welcome the increasing use of diversion. We are working to address gaps in our understanding of this area including through the previously mentioned work to gather data on community resolutions. 22. As part of the YJB’s pathfinder work, the YJB, National Probation Service, and Association of YOT Managers have jointly commissioned a Prevention and Diversion Project, which aims to work collaboratively to better understand the nature of prevention and diversion work. This will help to define, identify, measure and report on the effectiveness of initiatives undertaken by YOTs across England and Wales. The increased oversight and understanding of YOTs’ prevention and diversion work will contribute towards developing an evidence-base for effective practice and ensuring children’s needs are met.