A new digital collaboration space has been created to reduce the number of offences carried out by children.
Basecamp: Diversion and Youth Justice Policing, which launched on 8 May, is a channel which facilitates the sharing of insights and learnings between youth justice services and the police, in order to improve collective practice and consequently better aid children.
It was developed by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), with the support of the Youth Endowment Fund and the Centre for Justice Innovation.
Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board, said that Basecamp was born from the conviction that “the strongest outcomes for children come from systems that work together”.
She said: “By bringing together expertise from across youth justice and policing, we are strengthening our collective ability to support children, reduce harm and build safer communities.”
Alongside facilitating the sharing of insights, the space intends to boost collaborative problem-solving on practical and emerging challenges; improve the alignment and visibility of guidance, resources, and updates; promote networking and collaboration across areas; and allow for live queries and FAQs from services and policing partners.
It also includes tools, templates and examples of effective practice; national guidance and training materials, and the cross-area sharing of local resources.
Chief Constable Catherine Roper, said that the platform was “another strong step toward the delivery of collaborative, coordination and thoughtful service to children and young persons.”
She said: “I believe all children should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, without their lives being blighted by crime.
“Any child who is touched by criminality is a victim, even if they are suspected of committing an offence themselves, and through partnership working and collective continued improvement, we can ensure we are doing everything we can to keep our young people safe.”
The Youth Justice Board emphasised that information about individual cases would not be shared on the platform.