DEALING WITH JUVENILE OFFENDERS

• NCJ Number: 58477
• Journal: Police Review Volume: 87 Dated: (FEBRUARY 23, 1979) Pages: 280-285,303
• Author(s): I OLIVER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Police Review Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: EXTRACT FROM 'METROPOLITAN POLICE APPROACH TO THE PROSECUTION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS', BY IAN OLIVER

Annotation

CONFLICT EXISTS BETWEEN POLICE AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN LONDON, ENGLAND, STEMMING FROM DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ON TREATMENT OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND SOCIAL SERVICES' LACK OF TRAINED PERSONNEL TO HANDLE PROBLEMS REFERRED TO THEM.

Abstract

WITH THE PASSING OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT 1969, THE LOCAL AUTHORITY, THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, TOOK ON MUCH GREATER RESPONSIBILITY IN THE MATTER OF CHILD WELFARE AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN TROUBLE. ONE OF THE MAJOR AIMS OF THE 1969 ACT WAS TO DEAL WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, KEEPING THEM OUT OF COURT AND UNDER SUPERVISION WITHIN THEIR NORMAL ENVIRONMENT. FLEXIBLE PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH YOUNG OFFENDERS WERE PROVIDED AND IN THEORY, THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS HAS A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLES OUTLINED UNDER THE ACT. BUT THE PRINCIPLES IN NO WAY MATCHED THE REALITY, AND MANY SITUATIONS HAVE ARISEN THAT HAVE CREATED AN UNFORTUNATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE POLICE. IN 1970, THE SEEBOHM REPORT TOOK AN ALL EMBRACING LOOK AT THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE RESULT WAS THE LOCAL AUTHORITY SOCIAL SERVICES OF 1970 WHICH SET UP THE SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES. DESPITE THE INCREASE IN DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES, THE STAFFS OF SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES WERE NOT ENLARGED BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL SHORTAGES; TRAINING OF SOCIAL WORKERS WAS INADEQUATE FOR THE TASKS THEY HAD TO PERFORM. IN AN ATTEMPT TO OVERCOME SOME OF THESE DIFFICULTIES, THE METROPOLITAN POLICE HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH THE TRAINING OF SOCIAL WORKERS. OFFICERS INVOLVED WITH JUVENILE OFFENDERS HAVE TRIED TO COOPERATE WITH DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN AN EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO COPE WITH THE PROBLEMS. POLICE ARE NOT UNSYMPATHETIC TO THE DIFFICULTIES THAT CONFRONT THE SOCIAL SERVICES, BUT AS FAR AS YOUNG OFFENDERS ARE CONCERNED, THE SERVICE OFFERED AT THE PRESENT TIME IS INADEQUATE AND THERE IS A DANGER THAT THE SITUATION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO, INSTEAD OF ALLEVIATING, THE PROBLEM OF JUVENILE CRIME. (STB)