BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET YOUTH OFFENDING TEAM
AN INTRODUCTION
There are Youth Offending Teams [YOTs] throughout England and Wales. They were set up in April 2000 under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, to prevent offending by children and young people aged under 18. There is one YOT in this area, covering the whole Unitary Authority.
The YOT is staffed and funded by the Local Authority, Police, Probation and Health Services and its work is overseen by a local partnership Steering Group, made up of these agencies and other partners, including the Community Safety and Drugs Partnership and Connexions West of England. It also receives government funding through the Youth Justice Board and the Children’s Fund. Its work is described in the annual Youth Justice Plan.
Objectives
The national Youth Justice Board, that oversees youth justice services, has the following objectives:
(i) Prevent crime and the fear of crime by ensuring services are targeted at children and young people at high risk of offending, and meet the needs of victims and communities.
(ii) Ensure that young people who do offend are identified and dealt with without delay, with punishment proportionate to the seriousness and frequency of offending.
(iii) Promote interventions with young offenders that reduce the risk factors associated with offending, increase the protective factors and reinforce the responsibilities of parents.
Work with young people
The YOT works with young people who have offended or are at high risk of offending. In all services provided, there is a commitment to ensure equal access, equal opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice. The main areas of work are as follows:
1. Young people involved in anti-social behaviour
As a member of the Community Safety and Drugs Partnership, the YOT is actively involved in work to prevent anti-social behaviour by children and young people. It may work with young people subject to Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and Individual Support Orders.
2. Young people at high risk of offending
Sometimes, young people’s circumstances and behaviour place them at high risk of offending. The Compass project offers a service to 8-13 year olds and their families, to help them to avoid offending. The YOT also facilitates a local crime diversion partnership.
3. Young people who have been arrested
The YOT arranges for an ‘Appropriate Adult’ to safeguard the rights of anyone aged 16 years or under, who is detained and questioned by the Police, whenever their own parent or carer cannot do so.
4. Young people who have offended
All those aged 10-17, who live in Bath and North East Somerset and have admitted an offence to the Police or have been charged to appear in Court, will come to the attention of the YOT and receive one or more of the following services:
(a) Final Warnings
The YOT works to reduce the risk of offending with some of those who admit an offence to the Police and are Reprimanded or Finally Warned instead of having to attend Court.
(b) Remand Management
Contact and support is provided to young people and their families whilst their cases are progressing through Court, either on a voluntary basis, or as a requirement of their Bail conditions, to help reduce the risk of offending. The YOT also visits young people who are remanded to secure establishments.
(c) Pre-Sentence Reports
The YOT makes detailed assessments of young people’s risk of re-offending and how this can be addressed, and provides Courts with reports to assist in sentencing.
(d) Referral Orders
Young people who plead guilty when they first appear in Court are usually referred to a Youth Offender Panel, made up of trained volunteers from the local area and an adviser from the YOT. The Panel meets with the young person, their parents and the victim of their offence, wherever possible, to discuss the offence and agree a contract to enable the young person to make amends.
(e) Reparation Orders
If a young person re-offends, the Court may make a Reparation Order, requiring them to make amends directly to the victim or to take on unpaid work in the community.
(f) Community Sentences
Most young people who offend again are sentenced to a Court Order that can be carried out in the community, around existing commitments. Most of these Orders involve twice weekly appointments with the YOT for the first three months, with frequency of contact then reducing. These meetings are used to address difficulties relevant to the risk of offending, for example misuse of drugs or alcohol, mixing with others who offend, or absence from school. Young people are also encouraged to make amends to the victim, learn problem-solving skills and to get involved in constructive activities. Those who present a higher risk of offending may be placed on the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme, with a minimum of 25 hours of contact per week and an electronically monitored curfew.
(g) Custodial Sentences
A small number of people offend persistently or commit offences that are so serious, that they receive a Detention and Training Order, half of which is served in a secure institution and half in the community. Young people who commit grave offences may receive a longer sentence. The YOT helps staff in custodial facilities to plan and work with young people, and then supervises them when they return to the community.
Court Liaison Work
The YOT provides information and assessments to Courts, to assist them in reaching prompt decisions.
Work with Parents
Parents of young people who have offended often feel isolated and unsupported. The YOT works with parents and carers to enhance their parenting skills, reduce the risk of young people offending and promote young people’s engagement in education, training and employment. It can provide information about the range of support available in this area and also works with parents subject to Parenting Orders.
Services for Victims
The YOT contacts the named victims for each young person worked with. Victims are offered information, opportunity to receive written explanations or apologies, or a chance to make a direct input into the plans for how the young person will make amends, including being able to meet them. The YOT takes victims’ views into account in preparing reports and in work with young people who offend.
Community Involvement
We all have an interest in preventing youth offending and establishing safer communities. The YOT values the direct involvement of members of the public, who are trained to undertake specialist tasks such as becoming Referral Order Panel Members or Appropriate Adults. It also employs some paid staff on a sessional basis. If you would like to know more about how you can support the YOT’s work locally, please contact us at the address below:
OFFICE ADDRESS: 12 Charlotte Street, Bath BA1 2NE Tel: 01225 396966
OFFICE HOURS: Mon – Thurs 8.30am – 5.00pm and Fri 8.30am 4.30pm
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS LEAFLET CAN BE MADE
AVAILABLE IN BRAILLE, ON TAPE OR IN OTHER LANGUAGES
| This information can be made available in a range of languages, large print, Braille, on tape, electronic and accessible formats. Contact John Barnes on 01225 396220, Minicom 01225 477043 or email John_Barnes@bathnes.gov.uk |