Simon Foy QPM MPS Commander Homicide and Serious Crime, Sapphire & Child Abuse Investigation Commands (Member of London Safeguarding Children Board – MPS lead on Safeguarding)

Disturbances London 6 th to 9 th August 2011 Significant implications for London Reviews etc. Implications for children & young people

Data & update from investigation (Op Withern) up to 28/11/ arrests in total – 776 juvenile & 2432 adult 2002 arrests have resulted in charge/summons juvenile & 1489 adult Priority offences: arson, assault, burglary, criminal damage, HSG, possession of weapons, robbery & violence offences (Violent Disorder, Affray)

Data & update from investigation (Op Withern) up to 28/11/ cases have resulted in court: 80 – Community order, 120 – referred to Youth Offending Panel, 31 – Conditional discharge, 389 – Custodial sentence, 62 – Custodial sentence suspended, 68 – fine, 102 – Detention & Training Order, 44 – Acquitted / Dismissed, 50 – Discharged, 72 – Discontinuance, 4 – Supervisory Order, 2 – Other.

Practitioner discussion on 21/11/2011 Range of Agencies/Safeguarding leads Youth Justice Board presentation

Youth Justice Board data up to midday 12/10/ young people had appeared before the courts in relation to the disturbances - 62% had a previous caution or conviction. Of these 514 young people, 182 had been sentenced, with 60 (33%) receiving immediate custody and a further 122 given court convictions. Comparisons by ethnicity (where ethnicity was recorded) show that 41% of those young people brought before the courts were from a white ethnic background compared to 76% of the young people in those areas.

Youth Justice Board data up to midday 12/10/2011 The educational background of 386 young people - 66% were classified as having some form of special educational need (SEN) compared to 21% of all pupils in maintained secondary schools. 42% of young people were in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM) compared to 16% of all pupils in maintained secondary schools. It also showed that 64% of year olds lived in one of the 20% most deprived areas whilst only 3% lived in one of the 20% least deprived areas.

Broad observations The proportion of young people involved in the disturbances varied by area – in London 24% were aged & in Merseyside this proportion was 42%. There were 175 young people who were sentenced at youth courts & the average custodial sentence was 7.8 months Criminal Histories – it is clear that those that took part in the disturbances were more likely to have a previous conviction than the population as a whole. Of the males brought before court, 45% had a least one previous conviction.

Broad observations Ethnicity – 41% of young people brought before the courts were from a white ethnic background, 47% from a black or mixed black ethnic background, 6% from an Asian background & 6% from other backgrounds Socio economic factors – Young people appearing before the courts came disproportionately from areas with high levels of deprivation. 36% of young people were identified as having at least one fixed period exclusion from school during 2009/10 Of the year olds appearing before the courts around half achieved the expected Level 4 in English & Maths assessment

Headings for wider consideration by LSCB: Consequence definition Need to adjust processes and planning in particular areas in the light of experience / evidence There are opportunities for early intervention - which are now evidence based Potential preventative tactics