§ 17. Mr. Piara S. Khabra (Ealing, Southall)What steps he is taking to ensure that there is early intervention with young offenders to prevent reoffending. [44260]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Alun Michael)The Government are introducing a number of early intervention measures as part of their youth justice reform programme. These measures include the child safety order, local child curfews for children under the age of 10 and the final warning scheme for those above the age of criminal responsibility. New requirements for district or borough-based crime reduction strategies and new youth offending teams will provide a new focus for local action to cut crime. We are also providing new powers to allow the police to deal with truants.
§ Mr. KhabraIs my hon. Friend aware that the recent Audit Commission report on youth crime describes the 18 previous Government's appalling record in this area? Does he agree that truancy and exclusion are major causes for the commission of crime and reoffending by children? What steps is he taking to help parents to control their children's behaviour? Will he ensure that parents, and especially working parents, of children who do not go to school are given the support that will enable them to send their children to school?
§ Mr. MichaelMy hon. Friend is right to highlight truancy and school exclusion as problems. That is why the Government have looked at the matter across Departments and why the social exclusion unit gave it priority in its work. We have introduced in the Crime and Disorder Bill an amendment that will give the police the power to pick up youngsters and take them either back to a school or to another agreed place when they do so in partnership with education authorities. Making such a link between different problems and ensuring that local solutions are produced in partnership are two of the ways in which to remove the scourge of youth crime.