Parents and guardians could face increased accountability for their children's law-breaking under new proposals for the youth justice system. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy is leading a significant overhaul, outlined in a new Youth Justice White Paper published on Monday.
The reforms aim to deter young people from a life of crime by placing greater responsibility on parents and carers whose children commit offences or engage in anti-social behaviour. A key element involves strengthening parenting orders, which currently allow parents to be mandated into counselling or guidance or face financial penalties. The Ministry of Justice highlighted a dramatic decline in the use of these orders, plummeting from over a thousand in 2009/10 to just 33 in the last financial year.
According to the Telegraph, the desire to strengthen parental orders comes in the wake of the inquiry into the Southport stabbings, and could result in jail time for parents whose children break the law. Alongside the greater role for parents, Mr Lammy also plans to pilot new youth intervention courts, which will bring together judges and support services to tackle issues drawing young people into crime.
Mr Lammy said: “Too many young people are being drawn into crime, with devastating consequences for victims, communities and their own futures. These reforms lay the foundation to intervene far earlier, support families, and tackle the drivers of offending so fewer young people become trapped in cycles of crime, creating safer streets and fewer victims.”
Elsewhere in the plans are proposals to invest £15.4 million per year in a programme to help 12,000 children at risk of entering the youth justice system over the next three years. The White Paper could also lead to the end of people having to disclose criminal convictions from childhood throughout their lives. Mr Lammy plans to launch a consultation on childhood criminal records which could end the lifelong disclosure requirement.
Justice minister Jake Richards said: “Put simply, the youth justice system is not working – not for children, victims and communities blighted by crime. These reforms will modernise the system, keep pace with emerging risks and ensure young offenders get the support they need to turn their lives around, while improving public safety.” Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza welcomed the White Paper and announced a review of education in Young Offender Institutions. The Conservatives cast doubt on the Government’s ability to reform youth justice, with shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy saying Labour have shown they “don’t have it in their DNA to be tough on crime.”
