Youth Offending Teams

HL Deb 13 December 1999 vol 608 cc15-6WA

Baroness David

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will clarify the links between youth offending teams and local authority secure units. [HL230]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

Youth offending teams are being established under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to work with young offenders and those at risk of offending. The teams are responsible for providing or co-ordinating the provision of a range of youth justice services. These include the placement of children and young people remanded to local authority secure accommodation and the throughcare and post-release supervision of young offenders sentenced to custody, some of whom may serve their sentence in such accommodation. These functions will require youth offending teams to develop and maintain close links with staff working in local authority secure units.