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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Government 'criminalising young' | Government 'criminalising young' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The government is too quick to criminalise young people for petty offences where informal punishment could be more effective, says a report. | The government is too quick to criminalise young people for petty offences where informal punishment could be more effective, says a report. |
| Ex-Youth Justice Board chairman Prof Rod Morgan criticised an "extensive net widening" of the use of summary powers such as cautions and on-the-spot fines. | Ex-Youth Justice Board chairman Prof Rod Morgan criticised an "extensive net widening" of the use of summary powers such as cautions and on-the-spot fines. |
| His report for King's College, London, urged assessment of the development. | His report for King's College, London, urged assessment of the development. |
| The Ministry of Justice said there was a reluctance to bring young people to court unless necessary. | The Ministry of Justice said there was a reluctance to bring young people to court unless necessary. |
| The report for the college's Centre for Crime and Justice Studies said: "There is a good deal of anecdotal evidence, for example, that behaviour, particularly that of children and young people, is being criminalised which arguably would be better dealt with informally (school-related misbehaviour, for example) and in previous times was." | The report for the college's Centre for Crime and Justice Studies said: "There is a good deal of anecdotal evidence, for example, that behaviour, particularly that of children and young people, is being criminalised which arguably would be better dealt with informally (school-related misbehaviour, for example) and in previous times was." |
| The trend towards pre-court summary justice should more incisively be scrutinised to ensure that justice is being meted out fairly and effectively Prof Rod Morgan class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7580724.stm">Repercussions of a minor offence It added: "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. | "The implementation of the strategy has received virtually no research, inspectoral or parliamentary scrutiny. |
| "The trend towards pre-court summary justice should more incisively be scrutinised to ensure that justice is being meted out fairly and effectively. We cannot be wholly confident that this is so." | "The trend towards pre-court summary justice should more incisively be scrutinised to ensure that justice is being meted out fairly and effectively. We cannot be wholly confident that this is so." |
| Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve accused the government of "pursuing easy targets instead of going after the real criminals". | Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve accused the government of "pursuing easy targets instead of going after the real criminals". |
| "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. | "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. |
| Police time | Police time |
| The Ministry of Justice said the government was keen to avoid individuals, especially children, being prosecuted through the courts when an equally effective alternative could be found. | The Ministry of Justice said the government was keen to avoid individuals, especially children, being prosecuted through the courts when an equally effective alternative could be found. |
| A spokesman said: "The best way to avoid a criminal record is not to break the law. | A spokesman 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. | "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." | "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." |
| />Do you agree with Prof Morgan? Are you a young person who has received caution or on-the-spot fine? Send your comment using the form below: | |