Alcohol strategy

The Dept. Health is to publish the Government's proposals for a comprehensive national alcohol national strategy, in the near future. This will be based on the White Paper Our Healthier Nation which sets out the Government's broad aims, concerning sensible drinking, providing services to tackle alcohol abuse, and protecting individuals and communities from anti-social and criminal behaviour related to alcohol misuse. http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm43/4386/4386-09.htm

In advance of that, work is being done to tackle the crime and disorder problems associated with alcohol misuse via an Action Plan. This action plan sets out key objectives and priorities for taking forward programmes of work to tackle alcohol related crime, disorder and nuisance. The plan describes a range of initiatives to help tackle these problems, and provides a context for developing new ideas and innovative approaches, as part of local strategies, to address alcohol-related crime, disorder and nuisance. It has been drawn up following two alcohol and crime seminars, which have drawn on the support and commitment of a wide range of interested parties, including the police, local authorities, representatives of the licence trade, magistrates and others, all of whom will be critical to ensuring the success of the ideas and programmes set out in this plan. The aim is to encourage local action to reduce levels of alcohol-related crime, disorder and nuisance. Three specific objectives have been identified: · to reduce the problems arising from under-aged drinking · to reduce public drunkeness · to prevent alcohol-related violence

http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/alcohol1.htm

(Lead department: OH/DH.)

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Anti-Bullying Strategy http://www.dfee.gov.uk/bullying

A guidance pack and video for schools was launched in December 2000. It encourages teachers and parents to take bullying seriously and tell pupils not to suffer in silence. It also stresses the importance of taking parents seriously when they say that their children are being bullied.

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Beacon Council status

http://www.local-regions.detr.gov.uk/beacon/index.htm
http://www.local-regions.detr.gov.uk/beacon/where/index.htm

Local Authorities (LAs) have been invited to apply for Beacon Council status. Beacon status has been awarded to LAs for excellence in a particular service or cross-cutting service area. As part of the Beacon Council Scheme for 1999-2000, one of the areas councils could apply was under "services that prevent local shopping area and town centre crime and disorder".

Further information can be found at: http://www.idea.gov.uk/beacons/safety1.html

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Best Value

http://www.local-regions.dtlr.gov.uk/bestvalue/bvindex.htm

The duty of Best Value, which the Local Government Act, 1999 applies to all principal LAs and a number of other bodies operating within the local government finance system (including police authorities), is designed to deliver real and sustained improvements in the quality of services which local people receive. It requires authorities to set themselves demanding targets for service improvements, and to report to local people on the level of performance achieved and the manner in which services are delivered. Authorities are further required to demonstrate that their approach is consistent with priorities of local people as expressed via consultation.

Best Value became operational in England on 1 April 2000. Where authorities fail to meet the duty, Ministers will have a wide range of powers to tackle those failures, and ensure that local people receive the quality of public services, which they deserve and are entitled to expect.

For further information on relevant Best Value Indicators which impact on crime, disorder, and anti-social behaviour see Best Value & Audit Commission Performance Indicators for 2000/2001, DETR (1999)

(Lead department: DETR.)

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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

The National Priorities Guidance for the NHS and Social Services (http://www.doh.gov.uk/npg) has defined new objectives for improving the provision of appropriate, high-quality care and treatment for children and young people by building up locally-based Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This will be achieved through improving staffing levels and training provision at all tiers and improving liaison between primary care, specialist CAMHS, social services and other agencies. Given that research indicates that a significant number of anti-social behaviour cases involve someone with a mental health problem either as a perpetrator or victim, in addition to drug/alcohol and substance abuse being a contributory factor, local Crime & Disorder Partnerships should ensure that their strategies/action plans complement or incorporate these national objectives, which will assist in tackling such behaviour.

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See Explanatory Notes to the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 at:

http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/en/2000en35.htm

The principal aim of this Act is to improve the chances of young people living in and leaving local authority care. It seeks to reduce their risk from social exclusion and ensure they are able to participate socially and economically as citizens. The Act is based on proposals contained in the consultation document Me, Survive Out There? - New Arrangements for

Young People Living in and Leaving Care (1999) It followed up the White Paper Modernising Social Services (Cm 4169) and The Government's Response to the Children's Safeguards Review (Cm 4105), both published in November 1998. The basis of the Act is to impose new and stronger duties upon local authorities to support care leavers until they are at least 18 and to continue to provide assistance until they are 21.

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Children's Fund

http://www.dfee.gov.uk/news/news.cfm?PR_ID=1092

A new £450 million Children’s Fund to help tackle child poverty and social exclusion was launched on 15^th November 2000. The Fund gives children and young people a voice across Government. Early intervention will help vulnerable children before they are caught by the cycle of poverty and disadvantage. The Fund will be managed by the new Children and Young People’s Unit, and includes preventative services for 5-13 year olds and their families, and a local network that will channel money straight to local projects and be administered by voluntary sector organisations.

The work of the Children and Young People’s Unit will include:

• mentoring schemes, for example involving older peers talking to children at risk of getting involved in crime;
• counselling and advice services-for example working with refugees and non-English speaking families, 
• drop-in advice from the police and women’s aid;
• parenting education on issues such as listening to children and resolving conflict;
• out of school activities, including summer schools covering educational, creative and sports activities.

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The Government has committed £250 million over the next three years to the Crime Reduction Programme.

• The programme is intended to contribute to reversing the long-term growth rate in crime and will build on the foundation laid by the Crime and Disorder Act.

The programme will cover five broad themes.

• working with families, children and schools to prevent young people becoming the offenders of the future;
• tackling crime in communities, particularly high-volume crime such as domestic burglary;
• developing products and systems which are more resistant to crime
• formulating more effective sentencing practices; and
• working with offenders to ensure that they do not re-offend

More about the Crime Reduction Programme
More about Crime Reduction Programme Initiatives

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http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crimprev/prospec.htm

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The Government in February 2001, unveiled its vision for a modern, efficient criminal justice system to help police, prosecutors, courts, prisons and probation deal more effectively with offenders, provide a professional service to the general public and step up support for victims and witnesses. Criminal Justice - The Way Ahead is published jointly by the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department and the Attorney General's Office and sets out proposals and ideas for reform.

at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/new.htm

a full copy is available on the Home Office website on http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/dob/spt.htm

Further details can be found at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/new.htm

Details of how the £85 million will be spent are contained in the Criminal Justice Business Plan 2001-2002, which is available on the CJS website at http://www.criminal-justice-system.gov.uk.

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Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain: The Governments Ten-Year Strategy for Tackling Drugs

http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm39/3945/3945.htm

Produced in 1998, the Cross-Departmental strategy has four elements:

• Young People - to help young people resist drug misuse in order to achieve their full potential in society;
• Communities - to protect communities from drug-related anti-social and criminal behaviour;
• Treatment - to enable people with drug problems to overcome them and live healthy and crime-free lives; and
• Availability - to stifle the availability of illegal drugs on our streets.

Partnership is seen essential at every level. At Government level, the work is led by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Drug Misuse chaired by Ann Taylor and by other groups chaired by Keith Hellawell and his Deputy Mike Trace.

These bring together key players in the field from the statutory, voluntary and private sectors and others with an interest. They work closely with the local partnerships set up by Drug Action Teams. The Drug Action Teams are the critical link in the chain, ensuring that this strategy is translated into concrete action. To assist in that, detailed guidance notes are being issued to those working in the field putting this strategy into practice.

More about the Government's drug strategy

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Drug Action Teams

Drug Action Teams (DATs) are a mechanism for co-ordination of anti-drugs activity in a specified local area. DATs should include all chief officers of agencies with responsibilities for tackling aspects of the drug problem: police, probation, prisons, health, LAs, social services, education and youth services. By participating in the DAT, each agency will be enabled to take the wider strategic view of the local area’s drug problem and to ensure that their operational responses are better co-ordinated and effective.

Local Crime & Disorder Partnerships should ensure that their strategic and operational plans incorporate and complement the objectives of both the DAT and its key partners in relation to drugs. This will ensure agreed individual, joint action and consistency aimed at increased effectiveness.

More about Drug Action Teams

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Drug Arrest Referral Schemes http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/circulars/1999/hoc9941.htm 

The Government is establishing Drug Arrest Referral Schemes in all police custody suites to encourage drug-misusing offenders into treatment and out of crime. These schemes will involve a mixture of on-site and on-call drug workers, managed and supported by drug agencies.

See Arrest Referral: Emerging Lessons From Research, which provides evidence that such schemes can be effective on reducing drug use and drug-related crime http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/drugsalcohol3.htm

(Lead Department: HO)

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Drugs Prevention Advisory Service

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/dpas/dpas.htm

An extra £217 million is being spent on tackling the drugs problem, with over £70 million going to health and LAs to provide new treatment programmes, including a significant proportion for young people at risk. A new drugs prevention advisory service has been set up and £21 million has been allocated to support education in schools. The Government has a ministerial group looking at ways of tackling the problem of alcohol misuse by children. It has secured a strengthened industry code of practice to guard against irresponsible marketing of alcoholic drinks and has ensured that the industry’s proof of age scheme is expanded to help prevent children obtaining alcohol unlawfully. The group has also ensured that complementary action is taken by the courts and police and across Government departments.

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Drugs Treatment & Testing Orders

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/cdact/cdaint19.htm 

Introduced under sections 61-64 of the Crime & Disorder Act 1998, the Drug Treatment and Testing Order, is aimed at preventing further offending by those who are convicted of crime(s) to fund their drug habit and who show a willingness to co-operate with treatment. It targets those offenders who are having a disproportionately disruptive effect on their communities as a result of their drug misuse so that they can be put on a fast track into treatment. It is envisaged that the vast majority of suitable candidates will be convicted of acquisitive crimes, committed in order to obtain money to buy drugs. Offenders convicted of drug supply who are themselves habitual misusers, and are otherwise suitable for a community sentence, can also be considered.

Section 61 allows the court, with the offender's consent, to make an order requiring the offender to undergo treatment for their drug problem, either in tandem with another community order, or on its own. Once agreed to, the testing is mandatory. This order is available for offenders aged 16 or over whom the court considers to be dependent on drugs and are assessed as being suitable candidates for treatment. It is a community order, within the meaning of section 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, and will last between six months and three years.

See also Guidance for Practitioners involved in Drug Treatment & Testing Order Pilots http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/cpd/probu/guidance.htm

Drug Treatment & Testing Orders: Final Evaluation Report http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hors212.pdf

(Lead Department: HO)

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Aims to achieve a range of centres or networks across the country, offering high quality integrated early years education and care provision, family support and training services in response to local needs.  The centres are expected to help spread high standards across all early years services.  Key features include a commitment to:

training and development of early years practitioners
dissemination of good practice to raise standards and to act as a catalyst for the wider development of integrated services

Working closely with other early years schemes, such as Sure Start and Neighbourhood Nurseries, the programme will be extended from its current base of 29 centres to up to 100 centres across the country by March 2004, taking the total invested to £45 million.

(Lead Department: DfEE)

Education Action Zones

http://www.standards.dfee.gov.uk/excellance/guidance_info.html

Education Action Zones have been established to develop imaginative approaches to raising standards in disadvantaged urban and rural areas. There are 73 zones, which cover 1,400 schools. The Report of Policy Action Team 12, ‘Young People’ revealed clear links between poor neighbourhoods; under achievement in education; experience of crime & anti-social behaviour as victims and perpetrators; teenage pregnancy; and a range of health issues. Local Crime & Disorder Partnerships should ensure synergy between the strategies of the Education Action Zones and Crime Reduction Strategies by carrying out joint analysis of key trends and risks in their area, sharing views and using information better; and agreeing individual and joint action to tackle crime & anti-social behaviour.

More about Education Action Zones

(Lead department: Dept. Education & Employment)

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After successful pilot studies in Greater Manchester and Norfolk, from February 2001, courts in England and Wales will have powers to make curfew orders backed with the electronic tagging for juvenile offenders aged 10-15 years. The purpose of the orders is to help break patterns of offending by keeping young offenders off the street s and out of trouble at the times they are most likely to offend. Electronically monitored curfews for this age group seeks to divert young people from further offending by placing restrictions on the individual.

The Home Office Occasional Paper, Electronically Monitored Curfew for 10-15 year olds - Report of the Pilot, is available on the Home Office website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm

(Lead Department: HO)

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Excellence in Cities

http://www.dfee.gov.uk/edaction/index.html

Excellence in Cities, which was launched in March 1999, is a new programme to raise standards and to change parental expectations of city education in six of the largest conurbations - London, Manchester/Salford, Liverpool/Knowsley, Birmingham, Leeds/Bradford and Sheffield/Rotherham. A total of £350 million is being invested over three years. Measures include Beacon Schools, learning mentors and summer schools for gifted students.

More about Excellence in Cities

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This was established in 1998 by the Home Office to fund work undertaken by the voluntary sector aimed at developing and improving services and support for parents. It has a grant of £7 million over 3 years. National, regional and local organisations can apply for funding to improve the delivery of services to parents and families and to promote innovation and good practice.

Recipients of this funding include some organisations working with existing partnerships to integrate expertise around support for parents of teenagers into existing services and activities. Parents targeted are those whose children are at risk of social exclusion, school failure or criminal involvement

See http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/cpd/fmpu/fmpu.htm for Criteria Leaflet; Guidance Note; Application Forms & associated press releases.

(Lead Department: HO)

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Health Act 1999

http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1999/19990008.htm  

The Health Act, 1999 created new powers for the NHS and LAs to work effectively together through flexible arrangements including pooled budgets, lead commissioning and integrated provisions. These powers came into effect in April 2000. Contact DH to find out whether partnerships via NHS &LA can invoke the legislation for extending the coverage of combined arrest referral schemes and community care services for alcohol/drug misusers, people with mental health problems.)

(Lead department: DH.)

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See also Safe Stop Project (below) which aims to provide emergency accommodation for young vulnerable rough sleepers. http://www.housing.detr.gov.uk/information/rough/8.htm

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(Lead Department: YJB/HO)

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Several initiatives to improve leisure opportunities for young people have been announced which may assist in tackling youth disaffection:

• New Audiences Programme, encouraging young people to participate in the Arts

Social Exclusion Unit (2000) National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal - Report of Policy Action Team 10: Arts & Sports http://www.culture.gov.uk/role/pat10.html

Social Exclusion Unit (2000) National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal - Report of Policy Action Team 12: Young People http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/seu/2000/pat12default.htm

(Dept. Culture, Media & Sport)

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Neighbourhood Support Fund

http://www.nya.org.uk/neighbourhood_support_fund.htm

The Neighbourhood Support Fund is intended to re-engage disaffected and disengaged 16-17 year olds living on the poorest estates into education, training and employment. Through innovative fund-supported projects, these young people will have the opportunity to develop their self-esteem, skills and knowledge and thereby become ‘learning ready’. The added benefit is that such young people will be diverted away from crime & anti-social behaviour. Projects will be locally based, run by community organisations working with young people known to them.

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Neighbourhood Warden Schemes

http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/seu/2000/compendium/06.htm 

Neighbourhood Wardens are relatively new to this country and following the publication of the Policy Action Team Report 6 on Neighbourhood Wardens http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/seu/2000/compendium/06.htm the Government introduced a number of measures, including the establishment of a Neighbourhood Wardens Unit. DETR and the Home Office have jointly allocated £18.5 million until 2003/4 to fund the development of new and the extension of existing Neighbourhood Warden Schemes.  Eighty-six are being funded across England and Wales from the Neighbourhood Wardens Grant Programme. 

Warden roles differ. Most have common aims of reducing crime, tackling anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime, while contributing positively to community support, housing management and quality of life.

For information on identifying community needs & problems; developing local responses; action planning; risk assessing; monitoring & evaluating Neighbourhood Warden Schemes see http://www.regeneration.detr.gov.uk/nwunit/01/index.htm

For direct access to a Neighbourhood Warden Scheme Application/Implementation Form see http://www.regeneration.detr.gov.uk/nwunit/02/index.htm

The Neighbourhood Wardens Financial Guidance & Grant Mechanic can be found at: http://www.regeneration.detr.gov.uk/nwunit/03/index.htm

Information on Neighbourhood Warden Schemes; the problems they address, the methods they employ, their scale & funding, in addition to 50 case studies evaluating their effectiveness see J. Jacobson, E. Saville, Neighbourhood Warden Schemes: An Overview (1999) Home Office, Policing & Reducing Crime Unit., Crime Reduction Research Series Paper 2. 

Crime Concern has been appointed as independent evaluator of the Neighbourhood Warden Programme.

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New Deal for Communities

http://www.regeneration.detr.gov.uk/ndc.htm

The New Deal for Communities (NDC) is designed to tackle multiple deprivation in the very poorest neighbourhoods in an integrated way. It is providing intensive help to reduce crime, improve health and educational attainment and improve job prospects. Crime and anti-social behaviour ranks high in its list of priorities because of the debilitating effects they can have in driving out business from a community, trapping people in their homes at the expense of community development and encouraging the economically active to leave an area altogether. NDC has resources of £800 million over the next three years to support this programme which aims to bring together local people, community and voluntary organisations, public agencies, LAs and business in an intensive local focus to tackle the problems inherent in these neighbourhoods. Seventeen LA districts have been selected as eligible Pathfinder Areas, because their problems are so severe, and are now developing their local programmes. More areas will be included in the programme in later years.

Local Crime & Disorder Partnerships should ensure synergy between the strategies of the NDC area and Crime Reduction Strategy by carrying out joint analysis of key crime & anti-social behaviour trends and risks, sharing views and information; and agree action to tackle crime & anti-social behaviour in the NDC area. This will contribute to shared objectives and targets, which are more likely to succeed.

(Lead department: DETR.)

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New Start

http://www.dfee.gov.uk/newstart

New Start aims to motivate and re-engage 14-17 year olds who have dropped out of learning or who are at risk of doing so. At its heart is a multi-agency partnership working at local level. Young people needing extra help in difficult circumstances are being targeted by local partnerships in order to bring them back into learning. Funds have been made available to develop New Start activity throughout the country during 1999-2000.

More on New Start

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http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/cpd/fmpu/ontrack.htm

The On Track multiple intervention programme is a long-term crime reduction programme aimed at children, aged 4-12, at risk of developing offending behaviour. Overall the programme will be looking to see outcomes rising towards a 50 per cent drop in truancy and exclusions within 2-3 years and a 50 per cent reduction in offending by young people within 7-10 years. The day-to-day responsibility for the programme rests with the Children & Young Person's Unit at the DfEE, while the evaluation is being managed by the Policing & Crime Reduction Unit of the Home Office. There are 24 pilots operating in high-crime, high-deprivation communities in England and Wales. They will build on and link together those existing services and initiatives for children and families that can play a role in reducing the likelihood of offending in later life.

On Track will add value to existing work by: creating a greater focus on early crime prevention among key service providers; improving co-ordination of services for this age group; fostering the development of evidence-based models; and providing hard information about what works best in terms of crime prevention and methods of inter-agency co-operation. Pilot areas were selected in spring 2000 and implementation began in autumn 2000.

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http://www.doh.gov.uk/qualityprotects/index.htm

This programme is a key part of the Government's wider strategy for tackling social exclusion. It focuses on working with some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable ‘at risk’ children in society ; those children looked after by councils in the child protection system; and other children in need. The key elements are: new national Government objectives for children’s services: an important role for local councillors in delivering the programme; and annual evaluation of local authority performance against Action Plans; and a new children’s service grant of £375 million. A key aim is to ensure that children leaving care are not isolated, and can participate socially & economically as citizens as they enter adulthood.

(Lead department: DH)

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Reducing Public Disorder: The Role of Fixed Penalty Notices - A Consultation Paper 

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/cpd/sou/rpdrofpn.pdf

Proposals to tackle disruptive and anti-social behaviour in public places which can significantly undermine the quality of individuals' & communities' lives are contained in a consultation paper which sets out plans for the use of Fixed Penalty Notices. The aim of the Fixed Penalty Notice system is to enable police to put an immediate stop to disorderly behaviour, provide a swift punishment and have in effect a deterrent which takes up as little police time as possible. The Government believes there are a number of disorder offences suitable to be dealt with by the Fixed Penalty system, including: drunkenness in public; disorderly behaviour; threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour; the purchase of alcohol by or on behalf of under 18s on licensed premises; minor cases of criminal damage e.g. graffiti. The consultation paper outlines the Government's preference for a Fixed Penalty Notice in the region of £100 but points out that comments are welcome on this. It is also proposing to include 16-17 year olds in the fixed penalty scheme along with adults, subject to the same maximum fine. (See 'Reducing Public Disorder: The Role of Fixed Penalty Notices - A Consultation Paper', Home Office September 2000

(Lead Department: HO)

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Single Regeneration Budget

SRB brought together a number of programmes from several Government departments with the aim of simplifying and streamlining the assistance available for regeneration. SRB’s priority is to enhance the quality of life of local people in areas of need by tackling the multiple problems of crime, anti-social behaviour, poor educational attainment, unemployment, lack of cultural and leisure facilities. The SRB is providing over £2.4 billion from 1999 to 2002 for partnership-based initiatives. £770 million of this is ‘new’ money, and Round 5 (1998 will attract over £2.4 billion of private sector and European Union money).

Local Crime & Disorder Partnerships can assist SRB partnerships by providing monitoring information on crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour, and risk factors. Some local Crime & Disorder Partnerships have secured SRB funds for managing specific crime/anti-social behaviour initiatives.

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http://www.dfee.gov.uk/circulars/10-99/

See Social Inclusion: Pupil Support Guidance at:
http://www.dfee.gov.uk/circulars/10-99/

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Sure Start http://www.surestart.gov.uk 

Sure Start is a new inter-departmental Government strategy aimed at children under 4 and their families. The aim of Sure Start is to work with pre-school children to promote their physical, intellectual and social development – particularly those who are disadvantaged – to ensure they are ready to thrive when they get to school. Sure Start is designed with features based on evidence of successful interventions that were shown to improve the socio-emotional, cognitive and physical development of young children. Key features of such intervention include starting before birth, working with parents and children, being community-based and encouraging local people to be involved. Such interventions have shown to have positive outcomes for children including reducing the risk of criminality and anti-social behaviour.

 The Sure Start aims will be delivered through Sure Start programmes. The Government has set aside annual funding which rises to £499 million in 2003/4, for at least 500 programmes by April 2004, reaching a third of under 4s living in poverty. Each programme is run by a partnership involving local stakeholders. 

The national evaluation of the Sure Start programme will assess impact and cost effectiveness. Medium term indicators such as truancy, school exclusion and educational attainment indicators will be examined. Longer-term outcomes such as contact with the criminal justice system, drug-related crime, levels of economic activity and teenage pregnancy will be monitored..

Crime & Disorder Partnerships can complement or incorporate the objectives and targets of this programme to increase success.

(Lead department: DfEE.)

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Town centres

http://www.regeneration.dtlr.gov.uk/policies/ourtowns/index.htm

The Government's Urban White Paper 'Our Towns & Cities: The Future' was launched on 16th November 2000. It includes the following key measures: 

• Cutting crime through an enhanced crime reduction programme and crime reduction partnerships
• Proposals for Town Improvement Schemes
• Centres of Excellence in design and planning
• Comprehensive programme to improve the quality of parks, play areas and open spaces
• Major investment to deliver the proposals in the housing green paper - 'Quality and Choice: a Decent Home for All' - including starter homes for key workers. 
• Introducing Local Strategic Partnerships, which will give communities a clear voice in the development of the Community Strategy for their areas.

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Truancy Sweeps – As part of a £174 million DfEE programme, this money will fund more truancy sweeps where police and education welfare officers pick up youngsters who should be in school. It will pay for more schemes to encourage greater parental and community awareness of truancy, and will allow more schools to employ learning mentors to improve attendance and tackle bullying and disaffection. It also enables off-site pupil referral units to provide full-time education to excluded pupils, and more teachers.

Criminal Justice & Courts Services Act 2000 will introduce a higher penalty for parents convicted of school attendance offences. The new penalty, a maximum fine of £2,500 (compared to £1,000) and/or up to 3 months imprisonment, will apply to those parents who know their children are not attending school and are not taking any reasonable action to secure their attendance

Truancy Buster Awards: Schools which succeed in cutting truancy in challenging circumstances will be eligible to win a Truancy Buster Award.

More on Social Inclusion: Pupil Support from DfEE
See also truancy powers available under the Crime & Disorder Act

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• greater engagement between magistrates, defendants and their parents
• altering the court layout to make it more open and to encourage engagement
• encouraging attendance of victims
• encouraging the attendance of the press, including the lifting of reporting restrictions where appropriate
• the development of effective feedback to sentencers

The report Evaluation of the Youth Court Demonstration Project by Charlotte Allen, Ian Crow & Michael Cavadino, from the University of Sheffield’s Centre for Criminological & Legal Research is published as Home Office Research Study 214. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hors214.pdf

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Youth Inclusion Programme

This is an initiative, supported across Government, which aims to prevent offending by young people through a range of activities including sports and other recreational activities. It is targeted at the most disaffected 13-16 year olds in disadvantaged areas. It is based on the award-winning Youth Works projects, developed by Crime Concern. The programme’s aims are to reduce arrest rates in the target group by 60 per cent; reduce recorded crime in the area by 30 per cent and achieve a one-third reduction in truancy and school exclusions in the young people concerned by 2002. Eleven projects are already up and running; more are planned across England and Wales.

More on the Youth Inclusion Programme

(Lead department: HO/YJB.)

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