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8.3.3 Attendance Centre Orders
From 30 November 2009 this order is no longer available to the Court; however, an Attendance Centre requirement can be attached to a Youth Rehabilitation Order.


Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Attendance Centre Objectives
  3. Suitability for an Attendance Centre Programme
  4. Attendance Centre Orders
  5. Attendance Centre Hours as a Component of a Referral Order, Action Plan Order or ISSP Programme (post sentence)
  6. Notification to the Attendance Centre
  7. Breach of Attendance Centre Order (check National Standards)
  8. Non Attendance/compliance with the Centre where the Programme is Part of an Action Plan Order, Referral Order or ISSP Programme
  9. Completion of the Order

    Appendix A


1. Introduction

1.1

Attendance Centres may be used in the following ways:

  • Via an Attendance Centre Order
  • As a component of an Action Plan Order
  • As a component of an Intensive Supervision & Surveillance Programme (ISSP) (post sentence).
  • As part of a Referral Order
1.2 Attendance Centres usually operate for two hours (junior centres) on alternate Saturdays
1.3 There are two categories of centre. Junior centres take offenders aged 10-17 inclusive, senior centres cater for those 16-20 inclusive. Where there is available a junior and senior centre, 16 & 17 year olds may be sent to either according to their suitability although young people with orders over 24 hours should be sent to the senior centre.


2. Attendance Centre Objectives

  • To punish the young person by imposing a restriction a liberty (in the form of a loss of leisure time)
  • To provide the young person with occupation and instruction designed to assist in the development of personal responsibility, self discipline skills and interests; and
  • To promote the development of social skills and the better use of leisure time (through group projects organised in a disciplined environment


3. Suitability for an Attendance Centre Programme

3.1 As with most sentences, successful completion of the order will depend on the willingness of the offender to cooperate. Attendance Centres are unsuitable for young people who are likely to be determinedly uncooperative or disruptive.
3.2 Young people need to have a reasonably stable address. If their accommodation is unsettled the likelihood of completing the order is diminished.
3.3 Attendance Centre programmes are delivered to attenders as part of a group. This is central to their purpose. A young person’s ability to function in a group must be considered when making a proposal to the court. Attendance Centres are not expected to provide intensive one to one work with young people although individual activities may take place where necessary as a sanction for breach of the rules or where ill- health or other considerations prevent their participation in central activities.
3.4 Physical exercise is likely to play a significant part in most centres’ programmes. It may be appropriate to consult with the officer in charge if the young person has a condition which may preclude certain activities.


4. Attendance Centre Orders

4.1

Young people eligible to receive Attendance Centre Orders are those aged 10 to 20 inclusive who:

  • Have been convicted of an Imprisonable Offence, or
  • Are liable to committal to custody through failure to pay a financial penalty or otherwise comply with a court order or have failed to comply with any requirement of a Community Rehabilitation Order or a Supervision Order.
4.2 An Attendance Centre Order is a community sentence for the purposes of section 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 and as such may be imposed only when the court considers that the offence is serious enough to warrant a community sentence.
4.3 In making an Attendance Centre Order the court is required to specify the centre which the young person is to attend. The court must be satisfied that the designated centre is accessible to the young person having regard to his/her age, and that means of access are available, including the availability of public transport. The maximum travel time should be 90 minutes each way and courts may consider that less demanding travel requirements are appropriate to young attenders. Travelling time does not count towards the completion of the order.
4.4 The maximum length of an Attendance Centre Order is 24 hours for those under 16 and 36 hours for those aged 16 and over. The maximum length is 12 hours. In considering the length of an order the report author should consider the age of the young person, the seriousness of the offence and the risk of further offending.
4.5 The young persons consent is not required before an Attendance Centre Order is made. However successful completion of the order will depend on the willingness of the young person to co-operate (see Section 3.1).


5. Attendance Centre Hours as a Component of a Referral Order, Action Plan Order or ISSP Programme (post sentence)

5.1 In considering the inclusion of the Attendance Centre as part of any of these orders/programmes, the report author (for court) or Referral Panel should consider the objectives of the centre (see Section 2, Attendance Centre Objectives) and the young person’s suitability for the programme (see Section 3, Suitability for an Attendance Centre Programme). It may be appropriate to clarify with the officer in charge of the centre the date of the first session.
5.2 The number of hours should not exceed what can be completed activities with in the overall length of the order.


6. Notification to the Attendance Centre

6.1 The notification form (see Appendix A) will be forwarded to the officer in charge of the centre by the court officer/ report author/ responsible officer/ ISSP case worker.
6.2 The young person will be provided with a leaflet at court (Attendance Centre Orders) or by the responsible officer (all other orders) detailing the date, time and venue of the first session.


7. Breach of Attendance Centre Order (check National Standards)

7.1

Young people may be breached on two grounds:

  • Non-attendance – Breach Action must be instituted no later than the third consecutive Unauthorised Absence. Where absences are not consecutive the officer in charge has discretion not to institute breach proceedings.
  • Breach of rules – following an incident of serious misconduct, the officer in charge may refer the matter straight back to court.
7.2

When Breach Action is taken this will be the responsibility of the officer in charge who will advise the court as to which of the following options the feel to be appropriate.

  • Reinforcement of the order with a warning about future conduct.
  • Imposition of a fine whilst the attendance centre remains in place.
  • Revocation of the order and the substitution of a different sentence for those aged 15 plus this may be a Custodial Sentence.


8. Non Attendance/compliance with the Centre where the Programme is Part of an Action Plan Order, Referral Order or ISSP Programme

8.1 Responsibility for follow up of failure and breach rests with the responsible officer. Where there is a non-attendance the officer in charge will forward a statement of witness form which can be used in breach proceedings if necessary.
8.2 Non-compliance with the Attendance Centre will be placed within the context of the performance of the whole order and this will inform the decision as to whether or not breach proceedings will be instigated.
8.3 Where the decision is to refer the matter back to court for a breach hearing the responsible officer should discuss with officer in charge whether the Attendance Centre element should continue.


9. Completion of the Order

9.1

Following successful completion of an attendance centre element of an Action Plan Order/ISSP/Referral Order, the officer in charge will forward to the YOS a brief summary report detailing;

  • The activities undertaken
  • The young person’s response
  • The young person’s feedback on the experience


Appendix A

NOTIFICATION OF RESULT TO WEST LONDON JUNIOR

ATTENDANCE CENTRE

Name  
D.O.B  
Address  
Court  
Date of Hearing  
Offences  
Attendance Centre Order
Action Plan Order
ISSP Programme/Referral Order		  
Number of hours  
Responsible Officer  
Name of YOT  

Send to:

Rachel Bantleman
Attendance Centre Manager
C/O. Ealing Youth Offending Service     
2b Cheltenham Place     
Acton     
London Borough of Hillingdon W3 8JS

End