New youth plan approved as stats show the number of first-time young offenders has decreased in Suffolk
Re-offending hasn’t followed suit, with figures on the up
A new youth justice plan for Suffolk has been approved, as stats show the number of first-time young offenders has decreased in the county.
Elected county members discussed the plan, put together by Suffolk’s Youth Justice Management Board, during a full county council meeting last week.
The plan raised several key points, including a focus on supporting young people in education, training and employment, reducing offending and re-offending numbers, and keeping more families together.
The latest data included within the plan showed the number of first entrants into the system, aged 10 to 17, decreased significantly between 2022 and 2023, from 227 to 144.
However, re-offending hasn’t followed suit, with the latest data within the plan showing a rate of 36.2 per cent between January and March 2022 — that’s the same rate for the same period in 2021, and follows a dip to 20.4 per cent between October and December 2021.
Those who re-offend also go on to commit 3.94 offences on average, although Suffolk’s performance is better than the England average.
Overall offending rates for the county have risen, with Ministry of Justice figures from October showing a 5.3 per cent increase in Suffolk, the biggest increase in the country.
"This plan isn’t just about numbers, it’s about real children and young people"
Cllr Bobby Bennet, cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “Children and young people who come into the justice system can face a difficult time and our ambition is to prevent this from happening in the first place and to support those who have already entered the system so they don’t re-offend.”
“The youth justice service is committed to helping parents and families stay together and repair fractured relationships which can be caused by contact with the justice system, this is particularly true for families whose children are being criminally exploited by gangs and organised crime groups.”
To address this, the council will, for instance, run a pilot project with specialist staff to work with education providers and children to support them to remain at, or return to, school or college.
The service will also offer short, accredited courses, proven to have positive outcomes for young people and them into further training.
Cllr Bennett added: “This plan isn’t just about numbers, it’s about real children and young people living in Suffolk and our ambition of keeping families together and providing the best outcomes for our young people and keeping Suffolk safe.”
Speaking on behalf of the opposition group, Cllr Ash Lever supported the plan and called for more money to be invested by the Government.
He said: “As with so many other areas, prevention is almost always the most cost-effective course of action but, most importantly, prevention here means that children and young people’s lives, especially the most vulnerable in our communities, are being better protected.”
“Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot — this is an ideal point where we can implore those new MPs, no matter their political colour, to strongly lobby on our behalf to protect the futures of vulnerable children and young people.”
Support for the plan was unanimous.