A series of fringe meetings to highlight the issue of young offenders in custody are to be hosted jointly by the YMCA England and The Children’s Society at this year’s major political party conferences, it was announced last Thursday.
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The meetings are to be held under the title Youth Justice Matters and are designed to give a closer look at punishment and protection of young people.

The series of fringe meetings are also designed to bring awareness to and examine the implications of government statistics which show that around 8,500 young people are imprisoned or remanded in custody every year.

The move is a response to the Government’s recent green paper, ‘Youth Matters’. The YMCA urged the government that any policy on youth must include young offenders.

Kevin Williams, YMCA National Secretary, said: “We have welcomed ‘Youth Matters’ and the Government’s interest in young people.

“But it is important to remember that young offenders are young people too, with much to contribute.”

He added: “We believe it is essential to complement Youth Matters with a Youth Justice Bill that will make sure that the 8,500 young people in our prison system do not become a lost generation.”

The YMCA called youth offending in Britain a ‘crisis’, pointing to the 84 per cent of people aged between 14 and 17 who will re-offend within two years and the 49 per cent of young people in custody who have also been in care.

Mr Williams will chair the meetings, which include, among others, contributions by Bob Reitemeier, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society who will speak on welfare rights and protection for children and young people.