Have your say on Hillingdon Council's youth justice plans

The council has drafted a five-year strategy that builds on the success of its Youth Justice Service setting out its vision and key priorities to ensure it continues to be responsive and meet changing demands.  

A six-week consultation on the draft strategy begins today (Monday 1 July). 

Councils have a statutory duty to create and implement an annual youth justice plan that sets out how services are to be provided and funded.  

The plan has five priorities, which are:  

·         Prevention and early intervention - addressing the root causes of offending behaviour and intervening at an early point to prevent escalation and reduce the risk of future harm, ensuring the safety and security of communities.  

·         Over-representation and disproportionality - addressing disproportionality in youth justice to ensure fairness, equity, and justice to reduce the barriers that prevent children from accessing support and promote trust in the system.  

·         Child-centred practice - recognising children as active participants in their own lives and advocates for their rights, wellbeing, and development, creating nurturing environments where every child can thrive.  

·         Reducing re-offending - providing rehabilitation, support, and positive development opportunities to break the cycle of offending and promote the reintegration of children into society.  

·         Victims and restorative justice - giving victims a voice and an active role in the justice process, empowering them and helping them to regain a sense of control over their lives, providing them with an opportunity to heal and recover from the harm they have experienced.  

Cllr Susan O' Brien, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, said: "We are committed to taking a child first approach to understanding the challenges faced by children and families, and to improving outcomes by providing opportunities for every child to succeed.  

"We take a 'justice for all' approach by supporting victims, protecting the public and engaging our communities to divert children from entering the criminal justice system. 

"This draft strategy reflects our commitment to ensuring that every child has access to the support and opportunities they need to thrive, and we want to hear from our residents and other stakeholders to ensure they have the opportunity to give their feedback on the priorities set out." 

The consultation will run until Sunday 11 August. To view the draft strategy and respond, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/YJSS

The feedback will help to shape the final document which will be considered by the council's Children, Families and Education Select Committee, Cabinet and full Council.