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22 Apr
Question
Reoffending: Young People

This Question session in the House of Commons focused on measures to reduce youth reoffending in the UK. The debate began with questions from Labour members Dr. Jeevun Sandher and Catherine Atkinson about the steps being taken by the Government, answered by Sir Nicholas Dakin, emphasizing the increase in funding for youth offending teams.

Dr. Sandher highlighted the issue of off-road bike nuisance in his constituency, urging the Government to address both the symptoms and causes of youth crime. Sir Nicholas Dakin confirmed that measures in the new Crime and Policing Bill would empower police to seize bikes used antisocially.

Catherine Atkinson brought forward a positive example from Derby, where Engineered Learning teaches welding to prevent youth crime and fill a national shortage of welders. Dakin supported the initiative, affirming continued funding efforts to collaborate with education providers as a preventive measure.

Contributions from Mr. Peter Bedford and Jim Shannon raised concerns over education, employment, and socio-economic factors influencing reoffending. Dakin acknowledged these factors, citing the successful turnaround programme as an effective intervention model, with a low 5% post-program conviction rate.

5%

Conviction rate after completion of the turnaround programme in the first year.

£50,000

Potential earnings for qualified welders, as noted by Catherine Atkinson, emphasizing the benefits of trades in preventing reoffending.

Outcome:

The session underscored the Government's commitment to reducing youth crime through financial support, educational collaborations, and legislative measures to tackle associated antisocial behavior. The interventions discussed showcased a multi-faceted approach, hinting at promising reduction strategies for the future.

Outcome

The Question session highlighted ongoing efforts and received commitments for tackling youth reoffending through legislation, funding, and cross-departmental collaboration. It stressed the need for both preventive and reactive measures to ensure safer communities.

Key Contributions

Dr Jeevun SandherSpeaker
Labour

Raised community concerns over off-road bikes ridden by young reoffenders, calling for Government action in providing education, training, and legislation to curb the issue.

Catherine AtkinsonSpeaker
Labour

Discussed Engineered Learning in Derby, highlighting the twin benefits of teaching welding skills to at-risk youths and addressing the national welder shortage. Urged Government promotions of such initiatives.

Sir Nicholas DakinResponding Minister
N/A

Emphasized increased funding for youth offending teams and legislative measures against nuisance vehicles. Highlighted the efficacy of the turnaround programme in reducing reoffending rates.

Mr Peter BedfordSpeaker
Conservative

Stressed the importance of education and apprenticeships in reducing youth crime and enquired about inter-departmental efforts to enhance opportunities for young people.

Jim ShannonSpeaker
DUP

Linked reoffending to peer pressure, unemployment, and poverty, advocating for targeted community support to tackle these underlying issues. Commended the turnaround programme as a vital intervention tool.

Original Transcript
Dr Jeevun Sandher
Loughborough
Lab
Question
UIN: 903760

5. What steps her Department is taking to help reduce levels of reoffending among young people.

Catherine Atkinson
Derby North
Lab
Question
UIN: 903767

11. What steps her Department is taking to help reduce levels of reoffending among young people.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
Sir Nicholas Dakin
14:50

The Government are determined to reduce youth reoffending as part of our safer streets mission. Despite the huge fiscal challenges we inherited, we have been able to increase our core funding to youth offending teams across the country, allowing them to support children away from crime.

Dr Sandher
14:51

Constituents across my community of Loughborough, Shepshed and the villages have been facing the scourge of offroad bikes, often ridden by young reoffenders. That causes havoc for residents, it is dangerous for pedestrians, and can be fatal for those who are on those bikes.

Those young reoffenders often have little else to do, as there are few education, training or employment opportunities, so can the Minister please set out how this Government will end the scourge of offroad bikes and reoffending, and how they will once again be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime?

Sir Nicholas Dakin
14:51

My hon. Friend is exactly right. In the past, antisocial behaviour has been too easily dismissed as low-level, but as he rightly describes, it can cause real distress and misery to our communities.

I am pleased that the new Crime and Policing Bill includes measures to enhance police powers to seize nuisance offroad bikes and other vehicles used in an antisocial manner.

Catherine Atkinson
14:52

Engineered Learning in Derby teaches welding skills to young people at risk of offending and reoffending. A qualified, experienced welder can earn more than £50,000, yet we have a national shortage of welders.

Does the Minister agree that preventing reoffending and securing the skills our country needs is a win-win, and will he look at how we can get more young lives back on track, learning trades such as welding?

Sir Nicholas Dakin
14:52

My hon. Friend is exactly right. What Engineered Learning is doing is a clear win-win, teaching welding skills and moving people away from crime.

The Department will continue funding youth offending teams to work with local education and employment providers to help young people get the skills they need to have productive careers and positive lives.

Mr Peter Bedford
Mid Leicestershire
Con
14:52

Aspiration and ambition are drivers of social mobility and help to reduce deprivation and crime.

What discussions has the Minister had with the Department for Education to increase apprenticeships and training, so that these opportunities can be extended to all and we can reduce young offending throughout the UK?

Sir Nicholas Dakin
14:52

We have regular discussions with the Department for Education on these matters. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right: the more young people we get into training, education and work, the less crime we should have on our streets.

Jim Shannon
Strangford
DUP
14:53

I thank the Minister very much for that answer. Quite clearly, those who reoffend do so because they go back to where the peer pressure is, where the unemployment is, and where poverty levels are high. Those are things that must be addressed in order to help these young people not to reoffend.

They are big issues; what can be done to ensure those three things in the localities where those young people live do not overtake them, with the problems they have?

Sir Nicholas Dakin

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that all those issues contribute to circumstances that might create offending, but it is really good that we have the turnaround programme in place.

Only 5% of children who completed their turnaround interventions received convictions in their first year of the programme. That is an example of the sort of programme we need to be engaging in to turn young people away from crime.

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All content derived from official parliamentary records