Justice Committee Report: Youth Justice

Debate between Lord Beith and Rehman Chishti

Thursday 14th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Beith]

I agree with that comment. The phrase “postcode lottery” is one I do not like in areas where there is innovation because what happens is that some places show what good work can be done, and we want to spread best practice as quickly as possible, but I agree with my hon. Friend’s conclusion that the Government and we as a Committee should put as much weight as we can behind spreading the knowledge, experience and skills involved in restorative justice.

On our visit to Denmark and Norway we saw the benefit of intensive multi-systemic therapy, with a concentrated range of skills dealing with young people who are on the fringes of the criminal justice system and likely to become involved in it.

[Rehman Chishti (Gillingham and Rainham) (Con)]

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on his leadership of the Committee. He talks about different strategies for dealing with youth. Does he agree that we should welcome the strategy proposed by the Government to deal with troubled families? There are about 200 such families in the country and, by giving them access to education, skills and accommodation, we will get them out of the criminal justice system and give them a long-term future away from that as good citizens.

[Sir Alan Beith]

That is an extremely valuable initiative, and it relates to the point I will make later about early intervention, but as a Committee we think a lot more will need to be done in this area.