§ 34. Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to reduce youth crime. [47096]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Government are supporting a wide ranging programme which is tackling the issue of youth offending. This includes working with families through the Sure Start initiative, neighbourhoods through Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, education services through reducing exclusions and improving attendance and implementation of the 10 year drugs strategy.
35WThe improvements made to the youth justice system have also resulted in the tackling of delays in the system and the speeding up of justice, establishing new youth justice structures and making available expanded powers for the courts and police to use.
Combined with the Home Secretary's recent announcement on making remand facilities available for persistent young offenders aged 12–16, a greater impetus to the use of antisocial behaviour orders by local authorities and the establishment of the London youth crime task force we are taking forward a programme which deals head on with youth crime on all fronts.