§ 13. Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime.
§ Mr. JohnThe Government's policy of strengthening the police and encouraging local initiatives in crime prevention is concerned with juvenile as with other 515W crime. The Criminal Law Act 1977 has substantially increased the powers of the courts in dealing with juvenile offenders, and we keep those powers under review, but the prevention of crime is a matter for the whole of society. Parents, teachers, and youth leaders, as well as the statutory services, can have a much more crucial effect on the behaviour of juveniles than any change in the criminal justice system.