Supervision scheme extended to a year

A new 12-month version of the intensive supervision and
surveillance programme is to be piloted in 11 areas, the Youth
Justice Board announced last week.

The current programme, for persistent young offenders as an
alternative to custody, lasts six months. Offenders are provided
with at least 25 hours of supervision and surveillance during the
first three months of the programme.

Young offenders are often given a curfew order that can be
reinforced with an electronic tag.

But the new 12-month scheme will allow young offenders to spend six
months on the more intensive phase of the programme and allows more
work to be carried out with the young person to prevent further
re-offending.

Charles Pollard, the board’s acting chairperson, said: “The current
six-month programme is suitable for the majority of our target
group. However, there is a hard core of young offenders who can
benefit from an extended version.”

The 12-month programme will be piloted in south east London, east
London, north London, Birmingham and Solihull, Kirklees and
Calderdale, Liverpool, Leeds, south Wales, Greater Manchester East,
Nottingham and Coventry.

Meanwhile, the Howard League for Penal Reform has stepped up its
demands on the YJB to remove all 17-year-old girls from prisons and
place them in a more appropriate setting.

The charity also warned of an “out of sight, out of mind” culture
among some social services departments which often resulted in
“inconsistent” support for girls in prison. 

– Advice, Understanding and Underwear: Working with Girls in
Prison from 020 7249 7373.