§ 28. Sir Thomas ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review whether police officers have sufficient powers to detain juvenile offenders between the time of arrest and their appearance in court.
§ Mr. Charles WardleMy right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied with the police powers to detain juveniles. The criteria for transferring juveniles to local authority accommodation will, however, be kept under review.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his proposals on juveniles in care and on juvenile offenders affect schemes like the Children's Society central London project.
§ Mr. JackAs my right hon. and learned Friend made clear in his statement to the House on 2 March,Official Report, columns 139–42, his proposals related to a current gap in courts' powers to deal with persistent juvenile offenders. They will complement rather than replace the policy of initially aiming to divert young people from the penal system. The Children's Society closed its central London project in September 1991 but similar schemes, planned by the Children's Society, in Bournemouth, Leeds and Manchester should play an important part in steering troublesome youngsters away from further offending and custody. The Children's Society are one of a number of children's charities with whom the Home Secretary will shortly be meeting to discuss his proposals on juvenile offenders.