§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend his proposals for local child curfews as set out in the Crime and Disorder Bill [Lords]. [29787]
§ Mr. MichaelOne of the main thrusts of the youth justice reform programme is to seek earlier, more effective intervention to prevent young children from turning to crime in the first place. In the past, too little has been done to prevent children and young people taking the first steps into criminal behaviour. That is why, as part of our proposals to reduce offending by young children, we are introducing in the Crime and Disorder Bill the local child curfew schemes.
The Crime and Disorder Bill is currently being considered in Another Place prior to consideration in the House of Commons. At this stage, we have no plans to expand the proposals for local child curfews.