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ITN
Government 'too quick to criminalise youngsters'
Government 'too quick to criminalise youngsters'
The Government has been accused of being too quick to criminalise youngsters for petty offences that could be dealt with outside the legal system. Professor Rod Morgan, the former chair of the youth justice board, said the offences could often be better punished informally. Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve accused the Government of "pursuing easy targets" instead of "real criminals". In his report for the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College, London, Prof Morgan said there had been an "extensive net widening" in the use of summary powers such as cautions and on-the-spot fines. The report found there was "too ready criminalisation of children and young people for minor offences". Prof Morgan said: "The increased use of pre-court summary justice is one of the most important elements in the Government's strategy for modernising the criminal justice system. "The implementation of the strategy has received virtually no research, inspectoral or parliamentary scrutiny," he said. Mr Grieve said: "Labour's ad hoc and distorted approach has created the worst of both worlds. "Not only are serious offenders escaping real justice due to the reliance on spot fines but, as this report shows, many people who should be dealt with informally are being criminalised, he said. He argued "the public are sick and tired of this Government pursuing easy targets instead of going after the real criminals. This report also shows how Labour went into headfirst into this reform without carrying out proper research." "This reckless approach demonstrates why the Home Office remains unfit for purpose." A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the authorities were keen to avoid dragging children through the courts if possible. He said: "The best way to avoid a criminal record is not to break the law. The law-abiding majority want to see crimes dealt with effectively and Fixed Penalty Notices and cautions are part of this process. "They allow police to deal swiftly with low-level offending, freeing them up to spend more time on frontline duties and more time investigating violent, dangerous and serious offences."
ITN | August 25, 2008
