Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Accepted
Between 2010–11 and 2020–21, the number of children cautioned or sentenced for an offence reduced...
Recommendation
Between 2010–11 and 2020–21, the number of children cautioned or sentenced for an offence reduced from 85,300 to 15,751 (an 82% reduction) and the number of first- time entrants to the youth criminal justice system reduced from 46,012 to 8,848 (an 81% reduction).50 We asked the Ministry of Justice about the NAO finding that the government does not fully understand the reasons for this dramatic fall. The Ministry of Justice referred to work it carried out in 2017 which suggested that “potential drivers” of the reduction in first-time entrants to the criminal justice system were an increased focus on early intervention for people on the cusp of criminal activity to prevent them offending, and diversionary activity by youth justice services to reduce the number of children who have offended entering the youth justice system.51 However, when asked whether the impact of that early intervention and diversionary activity was measurable, the Ministry of Justice clarified that it was only measurable in terms of its investment in this area.52 The Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities said it would write to us with 46 Qq 54–56 47 Q 78 48 Q 57 49 Q 79 50 C&AG’s Report, para 12 51 Qq 30, 31 52 Q 33 16 Support for vulnerable adolescents the reduction in the numbers of adolescents coming into contact with the criminal justice system more than once due to the Supporting Families Programme, albeit that this is a narrower cohort than all adolescents.53
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to report back within six months, with an analysis and steps being taken to address the over-representation of ethnic minority children in custody.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6: PAC conclusion: The Ministry of Justice and Home Office seem to lack curiosity about the increase in the proportion of children from ethnic minority background in youth custody and appear to have no current plan to address the situation. 6: PAC recommendation: Ministry of Justice and Home Office should report back within six months on what they understand about ‘what works’, and what action they will take to understand why ethnic minority children make up over half of all children in custody. They should also set out how they will use the understanding to address the issues. 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target Implementation date: August 2023 6.2 The Ministry of Justice and Home Office recognise concerns about the over- representation of children from ethnic minority backgrounds in the criminal justice system and are working alongside Government partners and other stakeholders to address these disparities. 6.3 Both departments will update the Committee within six months with an analysis of the issue and the steps that government are taking to address the over-representation of ethnic minority children in custody.