The Backstop Journals » Aggregator

Restorative justice is not a simple fad – it really works

Backstop — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:37:15 +0000

The former Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police writes in to the Guardian’s letters section arguing that conservative MP Douglas Carswell is wrong when he says: “Restorative justice is certainly a fad that excited those that work for the criminal justice system… But it is no substitute for justice”.

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Jon Venables’ identity must be secret judge rules

Backstop — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:20:34 +0000

BBC News reports that the new identity of Jon Venables must be kept secret because there is “compelling evidence” of a threat to his safety, a judge has said. Venables, one of the killers of Merseyside toddler James Bulger, admitted child pornography offences on 23 July and was jailed for two years. Mr Justice Bean ruled that he had as much right to protection from retribution as anyone else. The Old Bailey heard he was still getting death threats over the murder.

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Justice minister undecided on the role of youth offending teams

Backstop — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:35:19 +0000

Children & Young People Now reports that justice minister Crispin Blunt has said that the role youth offending teams will play in the future is still up for debate.

Despite speculation that youth offending teams could take on a mainly commissioning role and that more frontline roles would be handed over to the voluntary sector and private providers, Blunt said no decisions had been made.

He said that there were “further opportunities for stakeholders to shape this autumn’s green paper” into justice reforms. He added: “I’m not in a position to say what the systemic answer will be regarding youth offending teams, that’s why we are in the process now of examining all the options.”

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Youth sector called on to help with citizen initiative

Backstop — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:26:54 +0000

Children & Young People Now reports that the government is calling on the youth sector to help deliver its flagship National Citizen Service initiative after announcing the ambitious target to get 10,000 school-leavers involved in the pilots next summer. The scheme has been tested on a smaller scale by charity The Challenge in London and Birmingham, but next month the government is to invite other youth organisations to submit bids to run pilots in England in 2011.

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Cuts will ‘decimate’ Connexions

Backstop — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:24:52 +0000

Children & Young People Now reports that universal advice and guidance for young people in England is being “decimated” as Connexions services brace themselves for cuts of at least 20 per cent. A survey of Connexions services, which provide careers advice and guidance to young people, reveals more than one in 10 face budget cuts of up to 50 per cent, with one in seven stating they are suffering reductions of £2m or more.

“For these cuts to take place half way through the year you have got to at least double the figure to make the required level of saving,” claimed Paul Chubb, director of Careers England, the membership body for careers guidance organisations. “You cannot, under any circumstances, describe cuts of this magnitude as efficiency savings. What we are seeing is the decimation of a universal public service for young people.”

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Social housing tenants ‘trapped’ report says

Backstop — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:54:56 +0000

The Independent reports that one in eight social housing tenants are trapped in properties away from their family or work opportunities due to the barriers they face in trying to move, a report indicated today. The report warned that people in social housing faced significant barriers if they wanted to relocate. Part of the problem is due to a shortage of affordable homes available to rent for people trying to move, with a 66% decline in the availability of new lettings to existing tenants during the past 13 years.

Housing minister Grant Shapps said: “It is vital that we ensure council and housing association tenants don’t become trapped, unable to take up job offers, move to more appropriate accommodation or care for loved ones.

“Schemes already exist to help people who want to move, but it’s patchy and so I want to do more so they can take up opportunities anywhere in the country to improve their lives.

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Lambeth Council could cut funding for youth charities by 35 per cent

Backstop — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:13:05 +0000

Children & Young People Now reports that Lambeth Council is considering cutting its funding for charities involved in young people’s projects by up to 35 per cent from January, a move that comes as the council looks to cut its total spending by around £82m over the next four years.

A consultation into the voluntary sector funding cuts is to take place. It is expected that where funding remains, some charities may have to reapply for contracts with renegotiated terms.

A spokesman for the council said that it was “committed to keeping any reductions to an absolute minimum”.

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UK Youth Parliament members to hold annual debates in House of Commons

Backstop — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:53:10 +0000

Children & Young People Now reports that members of the UK Youth Parliament have been given the green light to stage a debate in the House of Commons annually. MPs voted 499 to 21 to allow the UK Youth Parliament to use the chamber each year until the next general election. Andy Hamflett, UK Youth Parliament chief executive, said: “By allowing members of the Youth Parliament to debate inside the House of Commons chamber, it sends out an inspiring message to hundreds of thousands of young people, letting them know that they are valued and that society does want to hear what they have to say.”

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Teenagers get less help from social services due to lack of resources

Backstop — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:57:02 +0000

The Guardian reports that neglected and abused teenagers are not getting enough help because social services that are short of resources often prioritise vulnerable younger children, according to research published today. The three-year study into the protection of maltreated 11- to 17-year-olds said there was an urgent need for a shift in approach to ensure they were kept safe.

While the spotlight has frequently fallen on the experiences of abused young children, particularly in the wake of the Baby P scandal, over a fifth of serious case reviews – held when a child or young person dies or is seriously injured – relate to those aged over 11. But the study, by the Children’s Society, the NSPCC and the University of York, found that the older children got, the less likely they were judged to be at risk and made subject to child protection procedures.

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Johnson prioritises youth projects in London

Backstop — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:51:06 +0000

Children & Young People Now reports that the mayor of London Boris Johnson has highlighted participation and volunteering opportunities for young people, and youth crime prevention as priorities.

In his Renewed Agenda for Children and Young People report, Boris Johnson commits to promoting volunteering in uniformed and non-uniformed youth organisations, including a targeted pilot project aimed at establishing uniformed youth groups in areas suffering from the impacts of serious youth violence.

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