§ 25. Mr. John SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he is making in tackling youth crime; and if he will make a statement. [64374]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Crime and Disorder Act, which received Royal Assent in July 1998, included a number of new measures to tackle youth crime; other measures to establish youth offender panels are within the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Bill currently before Parliament.
The Government are currently piloting new measures in the Crime and Disorder Act, including the final warning scheme, new community-based court disposals, and youth offending teams with national implementation planned for around April 2000.
To date the Government have also introduced a range of measures to speed up the youth justice system, and have established the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales which will provide advice on the operation and performance of the youth justice system.