Young Offenders Academy

The YOUNG OFFENDERS ACADEMY Project (October 2008)

The devastation caused by high levels of crime among young people has occupied the attention of government and others for generations. Successive governments and agencies have introduced a complex range of measures which aim to reduce criminal activities among young people and prevent reoffending. As a result, some have been able to move away from crime and achieve the transition towards independent adult lives. Too many have not.

The concept of a Young Offenders Academy arose from East Potential’s work with young people for over a decade in the east of London as well as its role as a leading member of the national foyer movement. Frequent contact with victims, children at risk and others involved with the youth justice system created an acute awareness of the need for a new approach which could reduce the damage caused by often distant imprisonment and levels of reoffending which blight young lives and local communities.

Scoping Study

A Steering Group was formed in autumn 2007 to ascertain the legal, social, financial and political viability of a model Young Offenders Academy. The membership included people with knowledge and expertise in child and youth services, penal policy, criminal justice, education and training. This work was funded by grants from City Parochial Foundation, East Foundation, Henry Smith Charity and London Councils. Extensive consultations and enquiries were conducted; establishments and organisations were visited in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Much of the study focused on nine London boroughs in the north and east of the capital. Typically, 200 children and young people from this area would be in custody at any time and dispersed throughout 21 establishments from Durham to Devon. This group suffers serious disruption to education, training, community and family relations. In addition, 600+ children would be serving community sentences, including Supervision Orders, Community Punishment Orders and electronic “tagging”.

In 2008, 64% of young offenders who had served custodial sentences reoffended. There is widespread recognition that the major causes for this include poor employment prospects, inadequate accommodation and mental ill health.

Report & Recommendations

In June 2008 the report of the Scoping Study was published, Young Offenders in East London – A New Approach, available online at www.east-potential.org.uk. This recommends the establishment of a Young Offenders Academy as a pilot project in east London by 2012.

The model would provide, on a single campus, an integrated and uninterrupted approach to the needs of and services for local young offenders while awaiting trial, remanded in custody, serving custodial or community sentences and when released on licence or discharged. It would comprise three main elements which combined would deliver a unique approach to reducing offending behaviour. There would be a custodial unit operated under appropriate rules, residential accommodation offering support and surveillance for young people including those on licence or subject to constraints, and a range of inreach and outreach facilities providing services for local offenders and their families and bases for the delivery of community sentences, education, vocational training, preparation for employment and mental health services. It would thus provide both custody and a range of alternatives to custody.

The Young Offenders Academy would be locally accountable. It would not cost more than the average monthly per capita charge for equivalent places within the juvenile secure estate.

The report’s recommendations are consistent with the Youth Crime Action Plan and would contribute to the achievement of the Every Child Matters outcomes. The active engagement of the London boroughs will be essential for the success of the model. This would play a part in enabling them to meet National Indicators concerning safer communities, children and young people, tackling exclusion, promoting equality and other elements of the New Framework for Local Authorities.

Stage Two

It would be reasonable for the government to adopt all the Steering Group’s recommendations and proceed with the early establishment of a Young Offenders Academy. This could accurately be described as either a national initiative to be piloted in east London or an east London initiative which, if successful, could be replicated nationally.

However, it is recognised that more work must be done. Stage 2 involves a shift from consultation to negotiation and is guided by an Advisory Group. In addition there is a wide reference group which advises on specialist aspects of the development plan for the pilot project. We will be working with the nine London boroughs, health, education, training and other providers of services and potential partners. This work is funded by grants from the Mark Leonard Trust, Learning & Skills Council the KPMG Foundation and others. The output will be a detailed and costed development plan to be completed by spring 2009 and published as a sister document to the report of the Scoping Study. This will be presented to the Secretaries of State for Justice; Children, Schools & Families; Communities & Local Government; the Home Office; local government leaders and other key decision makers. An early decision to proceed with the proposed pilot project would enable this to be operational by 2012.

Project Lead Contacts:

John Plummer is Project Director for the Young Offenders Academy Stage 2
Email: john.plummer@audaxenterprise.co.uk or john.plummer@east-potential.org.uk.
Phone: 020 8340 2312 or 020 8522 5848

David Chesterton is Director of Social and Economic Regeneration, East Potential
Email: david.chesterton@east-potential.org.uk
Phone: 020 8522 2029

East Potential: 29-35 West Ham Lane, London E15 4PH is the accountable body for the project. Together with Dr Kevan Collins, Director of Children’s Services at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and Dr Malaika Culverwell, Director, Olympics 2012 at the Learning & Skills Council, they form the project’s Advisory Group.