Issue - meetings

The Panel considered the report of the Executive Director of Children and Learning providing an overview of the performance of the Youth Justice Service in Southampton.

Councillor Winning – Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, Steph Murray – Deputy Director, Children and Learning, Tim Nelson – Head of Young People’s Services, Anna Harbridge – Service Lead: Youth Justice Service and Chief Inspector Chris Douglas – Hampshire Constabulary were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel discussed a number of points including:

·  A renewed emphasis on treating young offenders as children and a stronger emphasis on trying to deal with the child’s issues and avoid where possible custodial sentences;

·  Providing appropriate alternatives to custodial sentences when it is assessed that risk can be effectively managed in the community;

·  The efforts being made to improve the level of educational attainment for children at risk or on programmes.  It was noted that a number of children had been supported to achieve a qualification that enabled them to work within the construction industry; and 

·  The validity of the figures within the report. Members noted that the performance figures detailed in the report were at odds with comments in the report.  It was explained that the official figures used were subject to a time delays and that the comments used were a reflection of the progress being made by the service;

RESOLVED that an update report is considered by the Panel at a future meeting, provisionally at the 28 November 2024, to consider performance in the following areas:

·  The number of children sentenced or remanded to custody;

·  Improvements in education outcomes; and

·  Levels of serious youth violence.