§ 8. Mrs. Sylvia Heal (Halesowen and Rowley Regis)When he expects to achieve his target of halving the time between an offence being committed and the young offender appearing in court. [64352]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Mr. Paul Boateng)In 1996, the average time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders was 142 days. We are committed to halving that time in this Parliament. On coming to office, we took early action to begin the process of change. There are now more than 150 fast-track schemes in operation covering almost half of all courts in England and Wales. Provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 were brought into force on 30 September last year to enable the courts to manage cases more quickly and efficiently. Other measures are currently being piloted with national implementation planned for October this year. The Government have set demanding performance targets for all stages of proceedings up to and after trial and for all youth justice agencies.
§ Mrs. HealI thank my hon. Friend for his reply. Does he agree that justice delayed is justice denied and that victims, in particular, will welcome the Government's efforts to eliminate any delay in the criminal justice system? Halesowen and Warley magistrates courts, which cover my constituency, operate fast-track schemes and early administrative hearings, so that the first hearing takes place within four days. The clerk at Warley magistrates court has told me, however, that sometimes there are delays if subsequent hearings are required because other agencies involved have difficulty in meeting the court's timetable. Is my hon. Friend having discussions with all agencies connected with youth justice?
§ Mr. BoatengI have visited Warley magistrates court and I know how seriously its staff take their duties, not least to the victims of crime, who particularly suffer as a result of delay. The sort of delays that have occurred in the past, particularly in the implementation of youth justice, have a very damaging effect on our capacity to make young people understand what the consequences of their offending will be for themselves and the victims of crime. We are therefore right to set those demanding and challenging targets.
Bearing in mind Warley's experience, it is worth while contrasting the 150 fast-track schemes that are now operating with the eight that existed when we took office. That is the difference between new Labour in action and Conservative rhetoric, and it is worth pointing it out.
There is a responsibility to make sure that all agencies work as partners in this endeavour, which is why we are working closely with the Department of Health and all other relevant Departments to ensure that education and social services reports are presented in good time and cases can be dispatched fairly, efficiently and, above all, rapidly.