More secure places for young offenders in Scotland

Around 25 extra secure accommodation places for young offenders
are to be created as part of a multi-million pound investment to
tackle Scotland’s youth crime.

Minister for Education and Young People, Cathy Jamieson, said
the additional places would provide much-needed facilities for
girls and women and hopefully prevent under-16s from being remanded
to young offenders institutions.

“We need a modern secure estate fit for the 21st century for
those young people who offend and those who are offended
against,” Jamieson added. “We must ensure that places
are available for every young person who needs them.

“The funding will also enable us to improve rehabilitation
programmes and provide specialist provision for sex offenders as
well as considering the needs of young people with mental health
problems.”

The places, part of a 10-year action plan launched in June, will
be funded from the £15m extra for youth crime announced in the
summer by minister for finance and public services Andy Kerr.

Last week’s Scottish spending review promised a further
£8m, £24m and £33m for youth crime over the next
three years.

Other key initiatives from the action plan to benefit from the
investment include the piloting of specialist children’s
hearings, the development of youth courts, and the extension of
neighbourhood-based community safety and youth justice
programmes.

The Scottish executive will now work with local authorities to
finalise the exact number and location of the additional secure
accommodation places.