Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012

135 Youth cautions E+W

(1) Omit sections 65 (reprimands and warning) and 66 (effect of reprimands and warnings) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

(2) Before section 66A of that Act insert—

“Young offenders: youth cautions E+W

66ZA Youth cautions

(1) A constable may give a child or young person (“Y”) a caution under this section (a “youth caution”) if—

(a) the constable decides that there is sufficient evidence to charge Y with an offence,

(b) Y admits to the constable that Y committed the offence, and

(c) the constable does not consider that Y should be prosecuted or given a youth conditional caution in respect of the offence.

(2) A youth caution given to a person under the age of 17 must be given in the presence of an appropriate adult.

(3) If a constable gives a youth caution to a person, the constable must explain the matters referred to in subsection (4) in ordinary language to—

(a) that person, and

(b) where that person is under the age of 17, the appropriate adult.

(4) Those matters are—

(a) the effect of subsections (1) to (3) and (5) to (7) of section 66ZB, and

(b) any guidance issued under subsection (4) of that section.

(5) The Secretary of State must publish, in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, guidance as to—

(a) the circumstances in which it is appropriate to give youth cautions,

(b) the places where youth cautions may be given,

(c) the category of constable by whom youth cautions may be given, and

(d) the form which youth cautions are to take and the manner in which they are to be given and recorded.

(6) No caution other than a youth caution or a youth conditional caution may be given to a child or young person.

(7) In this Chapter “appropriate adult”, in relation to a child or young person, means—

(a) a parent or guardian of the child or young person,

(b) if the child or young person is in the care of a local authority or voluntary organisation, a person representing that authority or organisation,

(c) a social worker of a local authority, or

(d) if no person falling within paragraph (a), (b) or (c) is available, any responsible person aged 18 or over who is not a police officer or a person employed by the police.

66ZB Effect of youth cautions

(1) If a constable gives a youth caution to a person, the constable must as soon as practicable refer the person to a youth offending team.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), on a referral of a person under subsection (1), the youth offending team—

(a) must assess the person, and

(b) unless they consider it inappropriate to do so, must arrange for the person to participate in a rehabilitation programme.

(3) If the person has not previously been referred under subsection (1) and has not previously been given a youth conditional caution, the youth offending team—

(a) may assess the person, and

(b) may arrange for the person to participate in a rehabilitation programme.

(4) The Secretary of State must publish, in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, guidance as to—

(a) what should be included in a rehabilitation programme arranged for a person under subsection (2) or (3),

(b) the manner in which any failure by a person to participate in a programme is to be recorded, and

(c) the persons to whom any such failure must be notified.

(5) Subsection (6) applies if—

(a) a person who has received two or more youth cautions is convicted of an offence committed within two years beginning with the date of the last of those cautions, or

(b) a person who has received a youth conditional caution followed by a youth caution is convicted of an offence committed within two years beginning with the date of the youth caution.

(6) The court by or before which the person is convicted—

(a) must not make an order under section 12(1)(b) of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (conditional discharge) in respect of the offence unless it is of the opinion that there are exceptional circumstances relating to the offence or the person that justify it doing so, and

(b) where it does so, must state in open court that it is of that opinion and its reasons for that opinion.

(7) There may be cited in criminal proceedings—

(a) a youth caution given to a person, and

(b) a report on a failure by a person to participate in a rehabilitation programme arranged for the person under subsection (2) or (3),

in the same circumstances as a conviction of the person may be cited.

(8) In this section “rehabilitation programme” means a programme with the purpose of rehabilitating participants and preventing them from re-offending.”

(3) Schedule 24 (youth cautions: consequential amendments) has effect.

(4) The amendments made by this section and that Schedule do not apply in relation to an offence committed before they come into force.

(5) A reprimand or warning of a person under section 65 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, or any caution treated as such by virtue of paragraph 5 of Schedule 9 to that Act, is to be treated for the purposes of any enactment or instrument (whenever passed or made) as a youth caution given to that person under section 66ZA(1) of that Act.

(6) A referral of a person to a youth offending team under section 66(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 is to be treated for the purposes of section 66ZB of that Act as a referral under that section.

(7) A rehabilitation programme provided under section 66 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 is to be treated for the purposes of any enactment or instrument (whenever passed or made) as provided under section 66ZB of that Act.