Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has asked the Minister for Local Government and Government Business, Lesley Griffiths AM, this week how the Welsh Government will monitor the implementation of the new Code of Practice for Victims of Crime as it applies to youth crime in Wales.
Questioning the Minister in the Chamber this week, Mr Isherwood said:
“Given that the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Draft Police and Crime Plan for North Wales says that reducing victim-based crime will remain the only target established within the Plan, and that he expects the delivery of the new Code of Practice for Victims of Crime issued by the UK Home Secretary in October, how will you as the Welsh Government monitor the implementation and effects of the statement in the Code that if an offender is under 18, the victim is entitled to be offered the opportunity to participate in voluntary Restorative Justice activities, bringing together victims with those responsible for the harm, to find a positive way forward?”
The Minister said she is bringing forward The Prevention of Offending by Young People (Wales) Bill “to ensure we particularly assist the number of young people who are in custody.”
She added:
“Up to last week, 49 young people were in custody, which is a huge drop from three years ago when we had over 150. However, you are left with this core of people who are hard to reach and have very complex needs. So, it is very important that we build on the very good work that we have done in relation to reoffending, particularly with young people. We have the all-Wales reducing reoffending strategy, and it is something that I discuss regularly in my meetings with the Police and Crime Commissioners.”
