Crime: Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour Commission

Lord Bishop of Wakefield Excerpts

Monday 19th July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Low of Dalston]

My Lords—

[The Lord Bishop of Wakefield]

My Lords, the centres of Wakefield and other towns and cities in Yorkshire are at present prime focuses for urban and social renewal, but are being hampered by the sort of anti-social behaviour that we have been hearing about. In the light of similar situations, does the Minister agree with the Justice Committee of the other place that there is a need for the development of community based services to prevent potential offenders entering the criminal justice system and thus divert them from offending?

[Lord McNally]

Certainly that is so. In fact, the whole thrust of the present Government’s policy is localism involving voluntary organisations so that the community itself is involved in the fight against youth crime.