HL Deb 08 February 1994 vol 551 cc123-4WA
Baroness Faithful

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What will be the maximum length of a secure training order available to Youth Courts for (a) a single offence and (b) in total where consecutive sentences are imposed, and what powers will youth courts have to commit young people for trial or sentence where they consider that a long period of secure training may be appropriate.

Earl Ferrers

Under the Government's proposals, which are contained in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Bill, a Youth Court would, for a single offence, be able to sentence a 12–14 year-old to a maximum secure training order of two years. The two-year order would comprise 12 months in detention and 12 months under supervision in the community.

Courts would not have the power to pass consecutive secure training order sentences.

The Crown Court would not have any greater sentencing powers in respect of secure training orders than the Youth Court. Youth Courts would, therefore, only commit a child or young person for trial in the Crown Court if they considered that the offence for which he or she was to be dealt with was sufficiently grave that a sentence might be passed under Section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 or if he or she was jointly charged with an adult.