§ Helen JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to tackle persistent youth offending. [57064]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 10 June 2002]: We have given the courts new secure remand and tagging powers for 12 to 16-year-olds who repeatedly offend on bail. Both started in the 10 street crime priority areas on 22 April. Tagging started in the rest of the country on I June 2002, and secure remands will start on 16 September 2002.
We have also delivered the youth justice pledge by halving the time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders; funding the Youth Justice Board's intensive supervision and surveillance programmes for the most prolific offenders; and we have introduced the detention and training order for persistent and more serious young offenders.