§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
What offending behaviour programmes are available to:
(a) 12 to 14 year-olds placed in secure training centres;
(b) 12 to 14 year-olds and 15 to 16 year-olds placed on remand in local authority secure accommodation; and
(c) 15 to 16 year-olds and 17 year-olds placed in Prison Service establishments. [HL231]
§ Lord Bassam of Brighton12 to 14 year-olds serving a secure training order in a secure training centre receive formal education and vocational training and spend at least one hour a day following a crime avoidance programme. The programme is tailored to the individual trainee, but it also covers the risk factors associated with criminal behaviour; the consequences of offending for the trainee and their victims; and ways of avoiding a return to offending after release.
Because 12 to 16 year-olds on remand to local authority secure accommodation are not convicted offenders, they do not take part in programmes designed to address offending behaviour. However, they do take part in formal education and in programmes addressing behavioural problems, such as drug misuse and mental health problems.
As well as providing educational programmes to 15 to 17 year-olds in prison custody, the Prison Service offers specific programmes designed to address offending behaviour. A programme called "Reasoning and Rehabilitation" consists of 35 sessions and is on offer in four young offender institutions. A second programme, "Enhanced Thinking Skills", is on offer in 16 young offender institutions. There are also special programmes designed to tackle sex offending behaviour.
§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the most recent statistics available for the number of 12 to 14 year-olds placed in custody:
(a) in secure training centres;
(b) on remand in local authority secure accommodation; and
(c) as section 53 cases;
and whether they can supply the available information on reoffending rates. [HL232]
17WA
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe most recent statistics for the number of 12 to 14 year-olds placed in custody are:
(a) Secure Training Centres—95 as at 7 December 1999;
(b) On remand in local authority secure accommodation—44 as at 31 October 1999; and
(c) Section:53 cases—42 as at 9 December 1999.
No information is currently available on reoffending rates.
§ Baroness Davidasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the institutions which come within the juvenile secure estate which comes into being in April 2000 will adopt the general welfare principle of the Children A ct 1989. [HL234]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe Government are planning to reflect the principles of the Children Act 1989 in the regime standards in place from April 2000 in relation to all forms of secure accommodation for children and young people on remand and under sentence.