§ 27. Mr. Ian TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what importance he attaches to the maximum secure training order lasting two years; and what assessment he has made of the effect of reducing this maximum to 12 months or 24 months in exceptional circumstances.
§ Mr. MacleanWe believe that a two-year maximum is necessary so that courts can sentence appropriately youngsters whose persistent offending is most serious and whose need for custodial training is greatest. Twelve months would allow the courts insufficient flexibility to reflect in their sentencing the gravity of the offending. Criteria designed to identify the exceptional circumstances in which a 24-month sentence would be appropriate would, we believe, introduce unnecessary complications, fetter sentencers' discretion and increase the likelihood of appeals.