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Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

It would be presumptuous to add to what the noble Lord, Lord Judd, has said beyond that I strongly support this amendment. As has been said many times throughout our debates, when dealing with young offenders we are looking at ways of raising the threshold to avoid them being taken into custody and considering what we can best do to prevent custody becoming the option. So it is, if you like, lateral thought which brings me to support the proposal. When I think of all the things that can help in the process just outlined by the noble Lord, Lord Judd, two of them are continuity of instruction and continuity of help from people who have begun to establish a vital relationship with these young offenders—that is never easy but needs to be given the vital word ““time”” in order to work. Underlying this amendment is an opportunity not just to push custody further away, but also to provide more time for the most important people in this process, those working with the young, to do more to help them live a law-abiding and useful life.