Youth offending teams: the role of the police officer
This document is joint police and YJB guidance on the minimum required core functions of a youth offending team police officer.
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This document is currently under review to bring the guidance in line with current practice and Child First principles
This is definitive joint guidance from the National Police Lead for Children and Young People and the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales on the expected minimum core functions that the youth offending team (YOT) police officer or police constable (PC) is expected to carry out.
The guidance takes into account changes since 2010, including:
- the new out-of-court disposals framework introduced by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012
- changes in funding arrangements introduced by police and crime commissioner appointments
- the reduction in resources across all public bodies as a result of continuing austerity measures
It also includes practice examples that are being used to improve youth justice outcomes for young people.
The guidance will allow YOT managers to provide local services in new, flexible ways, while making best use of the police officer’s powers.
It does not cover the role of police officers who are an additional resource to the YOT - for example, if they are:
- recruited specifically for an Intensive Supervision and Surveillance role
- of supervisory rank, and form part of the YOT management team.