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Mail :
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Community Safety Unit Community Services Public Dispensary 18 Catherine Street Plymouth PL1 2AD |
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Phone :
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01752 315789 |
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plymcomsafety@plymouth.gov.uk |
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- Devon and Cornwall Police
- Plymouth Informed
- Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
- Cornwall County Fire Brigade
- British Crime Survey
- Crime Reduction
- Crime Concern
- The Crime and Disorder Act
- Statutory Instruments
- Home Office guidance
- Youth Justice Board
- Plymouth Teaching Primary Care Trust
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Criminal justice system
Youth justice system
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 unambiguously defines the principal aim of the youth justice system to be the prevention of offending by children and young persons. The police, probation and health authorities are required to work with local authorities to ensure that appropriate youth justice services are available. Youth justice services include provision of the following:
- appropriate adults to safeguard those arrested/detained
- assessment and rehabilitation
- remand and bail support
- local authority accommodation for those remanded or committed
- court reports
- responsible officers for parenting, child safety, reparation and action plan orders
- supervision of those on probation or community service orders
- supervision of those sentenced to a detention or training order
- post-release supervision
Youth offending teams
Local authorities - county and unitary - must establish one or more youth offending teams for their area. The police authority, probation committee or health authority must co-operate and two or more local authorities may work together. The team(s) will coordinate youth justice services and help implement the youth justice plan. Membership will comprise at least:
- a probation officer
- a social worker from social services
- a police officer
- a health authority representative
- an education representative
Each local authority, after consultation, must also prepare a youth justice plan, setting out how services are to be provided and funded, as well as how the YOT are to be composed, how they are to operate and what functions they are to carry out.
Youth justice board
The act provides for establishment of the youth justice board with members appointed by the Secretary of State. Its functions include:
- monitoring operation of the youth justice system
- advising the Secretary of State on national standards
- disseminating good practice
- making grants and commissioning research
Time limits
Various changes are introduced that allow for setting of time limits that will reduce delays in the criminal justice system, especially in juvenile cases.
