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Proceeding contribution from Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Labour) in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 20 March 2012. It occurred during Debate on bill on Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

My Lords, as I sit as a magistrate in both the youth and adult courts, I make one simple point. In the youth courts, we routinely say to youths, ““You must behave. If you do not behave, you may come back to the adult court and of course that is a much more serious matter.”” What we do not tell them is that the reason that it is a much more serious matter is because there is much less support for them in the adult court system. Everything that the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, said is absolutely right. We see a huge, disproportionate, number of young men from 18 to 24 years old. There are attendance centres, which do good work. I have been to a number. However, it is very minimal compared with the support that this group needs.

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
736 c825 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Children Disclosure of information Criminal records Alcoholic drinks Bail Administration of justice Armed forces Crimes of violence Advertising Debt collection Women Hospitals Finance Fees and charges Homosexuality Electronic tagging Legal aid scheme Domestic abuse Drugs Fines Empty property Homelessness Knives Offenders NHS Parole Prisoners Political parties Misuse Offensive weapons Monitoring Life imprisonment Magistrates Marketing Prisoners' release Probation Prison sentences National Offender Management Service Metals Social security benefits Rehabilitation Sentencing Young people Trade unions Victims Theft Solicitors Squatting Ministry of Justice Suspended sentences Community orders Youth custody
Legislation
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk