PROPOSALS BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE FOR YOUTH JUSTICE

THE SCYJ IS URGING PCCs TO IMPLEMENT THESE PRINCIPLES

Fundamentally the Standing Committee for Youth Justice urges PCCs to demonstrate a strong

commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in all dealings with
young people. They further advocate these principles in PCCs policies towards children and young people:

1. Children are different from adults

Early behavioural problems are an important indicator of poor future outcomes

2. Arrest should be the last resort

Informal resolution should be used wherever possible

3. Tiered response to antisocial behaviour

PCC policy towards children & young people Support for children before considering an ASBO

4. Interventions based on what works best to prevent criminality

Rather than policy thats immediately popular

8. Commitment to reasonable adjustments

for children with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010*

5. Have effective consultation mechanisms

Ensure that young peoples voices are heard

7. Appropriate adults for children in Police custody

In line with recommendations of Joint Inspectorate Review

6. No stop and search

without good cause

Police address safeguarding needs of children in custody Minimise time in custody after charge Police provide age-appropriate information and interviewing techniques Adopt definition of child in the Children Act 2004

Adapted by NCVYS

* The Equality Act 2010 strengthens the duty on public bodies to make reasonable adjustments for children with protected characteristics. At the present time children with disabilities (learning disabilities, poor mental health, speech and communication difficulties, developmental problems) are under identified nationally and reasonable adjustments are not being systematically made. In order to do this effectively PCCs will need to understand the different ways in which these can present in children who end up in the criminal justice system. This will require enhanced, systematic child-centred training for the police, and others, on the way in which these matters affect and manifest themselves in children.

Adapted by NCVYS