Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance has been issued to Counter Terrorism Policing and Youth Courts on the implementation of Youth Diversion Orders; and whether participation in a Youth Diversion Order is mandatory for an individual once imposed by the court.

Youth Diversion Orders will be an important new risk management tool to tackle the increasing numbers of young people arrested for terrorism-related offences. They will be available for individuals aged between 10 and 21 in England & Wales and Northern Ireland, and between 12 and 21 in Scotland, reflecting different ages of criminal responsibility. As with other civil orders, the court may impose restrictions and requirements which the respondent must comply with. The police and youth justice services may also agree additional voluntary measures with a respondent if they feel it would be appropriate and helpful to do so.

The Home Office is working closely with operational partners, including the police, the Youth Justice Board, and Devolved Governments, to prepare for implementation of the new orders, and we plan to commence the powers as soon as possible. This includes preparing statutory guidance on Youth Diversion Orders, which will be laid in Parliament in due course.

The Bill Factsheet contains further information on the legislation, including the factors the courts must consider, and is available at: Crime and Policing Bill: counter-terrorism and national security factsheet - GOV.UK. An Equalities Impact Assessment was published as part of the Bill’s introduction and is available at: EIA assessment template.