Prevention > Looked After Children
‘New Kid on the Block' is a DVD and
teaching pack resource designed to stimulate debate
with young people and professionals about dealing
with incidents that occur in Local Authority
Children's Homes.
It is aimed at trying to reduce the number of young
people being criminalised for assaults and criminal
damages that arise from the stresses linked to
living in a group situation. It explores different
Anger Management and Restorative Justice techniques
in ways that free up Police time and improves
relationships .
See a PDF newsletter with more information here.
Bradford YOT, Youth Service, Police, Social Care and
Young People from the children's homes were involved
in producing the DVD which consists of role plays
and short interviews. The DVD also has a short
soundtrack which a young person in Care wrote and
sang the lyrics about his experiences.
The DVD was entered into a competition called Quest,
which is part of Crimebeat in West Yorkshire. It was
established in 1992 to encourage young people to
become involved in projects designed to help reduce
crime and make their communities a safer place to
live.
For more information, or to obtain a copy of the
DVD, contact:
Mehnaz Malik
Social Inclusion Officer for LAC
Young Peoples Support Unit
181a Barkerend Rd
Bradford
BD3 9AP
Tel: 01274 436001
:: NEWS :: Youth Justice Board forced to make restraint manual public
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has been ordered to release a manual detailing controversial restraint methods used on children following a complaint made to the Information Commissioner.
The ruling follows a Freedom of Information request to the YJB for details from the Physical Control in Care Prison Service manual.
The YJB refused to release some details, claiming that disclosing the material would likely prejudice security and put the health and safety of young people and staff within secure training centres at risk.
However, the Information Commissioner’s Office ruled that it is in the public interest to disclose details about the methods used, which can include distraction techniques – deliberately inflicting pain on children.
Assistant information commissioner Gerrard Tracey ruled that there is a significant public interest in releasing the manual in full based on the level of public debate and controversy surrounding the use of physical restraint.
He added that disclosure of the information may lead to the techniques being subjected to public scrutiny that could result in changes that improve young people’s health and safety.
The YJB has been given 35 calendar days from the date of the decision notice, unless an appeal is served (January 2010)
