Agenda item

To provide the Committee with a picture of the future developments and opportunities in youth related activity and Youth Justice, both locally and nationally.

Ms Suzanne Robertson, Service Manager, Families in Need Service introduced the report and highlighted the recent work undertaken to realign youth services through the Journey of the Child work. She added that there were a number of additional developments that would be put in place over the next year.

The Committee referred to concerns raised by members of the public regarding the level of anti-social behaviour, criminal activity and a small number of serious assaults carried out by young people and sought assurance that there were plans in place to tackle the behaviour and ensure it was dealt with appropriately. In response, Chief Inspector Lee Wilson, Lancashire Constabulary advised that increased collaboration between the Police and Local Authority was required and an emphasis placed on parenting and parental awareness. He added that it was unclear why there were higher levels of concerning youth activity in Blackpool when there were many more interventions in place in Blackpool than in other areas.

Chief Inspector Wilson added that changes were being made to Neighbourhood Policing and that there would be a reduction in the number of Community Beat Managers. There would, however, be more Police Community Support Officers based in the community hubs around the town which would increase visibility and ability to investigate, although they could not make arrests. He also highlighted that the Police would soon be located in the Town Centre which would assist in the prevention of some activity such as ‘card tricks’.

The balance between preventing anti-social and criminal activity, keeping young people out of the criminal justice system and also ensuring young people were criminalised at the right stage before it was too late and criminal activity was habitual was considered in detail. Chief Inspector Wilson advised that young people were given a certain number of chances (dependent on the crime) before being prosecuted. However, it was then for the Court to determine the sentence.

As an example of intervention being successful, it was noted that there had been a number of issues relating to anti-social behaviour around a Children’s Centre. Ms Robertson advised that in response the doors to the Children’s Centre had been opened and the provision of services to young people increased. In return, the behaviour in the vicinity of the Centre had improved considerably. It was reported that the earlier interventions could be put in place the more successful they would be, which had been demonstrated by research. The role of BetterStart in carrying out such interventions was also noted.

Members referred to the fact that the number of young people going through the custody system for charge or summons was double that of the next nearest neighbour in respect of numbers and queried why the number was so high. In response, Mrs Booth advised that the service provision for young people had not been good enough and was being addressed through the recovery plan. She added that she was confident that the number would reduce in the next six to eight months.

Upon, further questioning, Mrs Booth highlighted that there had been a change in service delivery leadership and that expert support had been put in place. She added that partnership working was being increased and she was confident that young people would be tracked with preventative work put in place earlier. Chief Inspector Wilson confirmed that he was also confident the recovery plan would effect the change required and that a reduction in number of young people in custody would be achieved.

It was noted that the education system was one part of the problem and that children and young people excluded from school immediately lost the support and distraction the school environment provided. Mrs Booth reported that how education was provided to those excluded from mainstream education was being considered and that there were Early Help and Social Worker leads in each school helping to role model good behaviour to prevent exclusions. The Resilience Committees and other projects provided by HeadStart were also supporting the work.

The Committee discussed in detail the work they needed to do to ensure that the new system was good enough and to ensure the right people were being held to account and challenged for the support provided to young people. Mrs Booth advised that a dashboard could be provided that set out key numbers, allowing the Committee to identify early on if something was not working. She also suggested that the Committee continue to seek the perspective of partners, but it was noted that there was some reliance on Mrs Booth being honest.

The Committee went on to consider young people that ran away from home and the serious risks and threats to young people in Blackpool. Chief Inspector Wilson highlighted that data was collected on people living in the town that were considered to be dangerous to young people. He also advised that on average seven people were reported missing from home each day in Blackpool and therefore resources had to be targeted to those considered most at risk based on data, policy and procedure.

In conclusion, Members considered that partnership working was key to achieving the safety of young people in Blackpool and requested that Mrs Booth alert them to any concerns that a partner was not engaging appropriately in order that the Committee could challenge their performance.

The Committee agreed:

1.      To create a dashboard of data to use as a tool to identify areas of concern requiring additional scrutiny.

2.      That a future piece of work be carried out on the dangers present in Blackpool to children and young people.

3.      That Mrs Booth be requested to report on partners that were not appropriately engaged.