HL Deb 29 April 2002 vol 634 cc449-51

2.43 p.m.

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made on reducing the time taken between the arrest and sentencing of young offenders.

The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)

My Lords, for all youth offenders in the youth court, we have reduced the time from arrest to resolution from 87 days in 1997 to 57 in 2001. Persistent young offenders are more troublesome to deal with and in that regard the figures are encouraging.

The Government's target to halve the time taken to deal with persistent young offenders was achieved by August 2001. By January 2002, the time from arrest to sentence had been reduced from 142 days to 69.

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply and ask that she congratulates all those in the criminal justice system who have worked so effectively to achieve that welcome improvement. Can she comment on reports that the £319 million Libra IT system, which was meant to enable magistrates' courts, the police and the probation service to exchange information at the touch of a button, is on the brink of being abandoned? If that were to happen, what impact would it have on reducing delays in the criminal justice system?

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

My Lords, the question relating to Libra is perhaps a little off the point. However, everything is being done to ensure that the system that is involved in delivering these results continues. It will not he adversely affected by any delay or difficulty caused by the Libra project.

Lord Goodhart

My Lords, does the Minister agree that there is a serious problem with persistent young offenders who commit other offences between the dates of arrest and conviction? Does she further agree that it is essential to provide more local authority secure accommodation so that those exceptional young offenders are not simply left on the streets to commit offences over and over again?

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

My Lords, I certainly agree that persistent young offenders are a real concern. It is absolutely essential that appropriate accommodation is made available to them. The noble Lord will know that the Government have taken many initiatives to try to ensure that the issue of persistent offenders is addressed effectively.

Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate

My Lords, while congratulating the Minister on reducing the time between arrest and trial, I recall when people were arrested one evening and the following day were brought before the courts and dealt with, particularly if there was a guilty plea. Lawyers, of course, were not involved. Does she think that there may be an advantage in dealing with people without the involvement of lawyers?

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

My Lords, I know that many are tempted to return to the days when there was no legal representation and people could not give voice to their rights. But, thankfully, those days are gone. Now, the individuals who come before our courts can be assured that they will receive proper representation from proper, qualified lawyers, who are able to assist them—as is their right.

Baroness Buscombe

My Lords, while we are very encouraged by the figures that the Minister has given us in relation to the time between arrest and sentencing, will the Minister comment on the figures for detection rates? In London alone, the detection of crime has fallen from 25 per cent to just 17 per cent of all known crime.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

My Lords, I am not able to comment on the noble Baroness's figures but they do not directly relate to the Question, which was about persistent young offenders. In relation to persistent young offenders, it is right that we have done much to reduce the amount of activity that those young people have engaged in, not least by reducing the rate of recidivism—or at least by attempting so to do.

Lord Acton

My Lords, can the Minister say whether there is any appreciable difference, in terms of the time involved, between girl persistent offenders and boy persistent offenders?

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

My Lords, I am not able to help my noble friend but I am more than happy to look at the figures to see whether there is any such difference. I shall write to my noble friend if any such indication is found.

Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde

My Lords, will the Minister comment on the fact that there appears to be a culture of adjournment in youth courts? That will obviously considerably delay matters.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

My Lords, I take this opportunity to wish my noble friend a very happy birthday.

Noble Lords

Hear, hear!

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

My Lords, I am very much aware that in the past there was an issue in relation to delay. That is why, on 21st May 1997, my noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor wrote personally to the chairmen of all youth panels emphasising that speed was essential in terms of confronting young people with the consequences of their wrongdoing. Speed is essential in terms of bearing clown on the easy habit of re-offending. The youth courts, as we have seen, have responded very well. I emphasise that when any particular adjournment is necessary in the interests of justice, that is determined by the magistrates through the exercise of their own independent judicial discretion.