A leading children's charity announced that it is to hold an inquiry into youth crime in Scotland. The inquiry, to be chaired by the former Bishop of Edinburgh, will examine evidence of the successes and failures of youth justice policy and come up with proposals on the best way forward.
Source: Press release 2.12.02, NCH (0845 7626579)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A report contained the results of the first comprehensive study to examine all of the services involved in dealing with offending by young people in Scotland. The report looked at how some 240 million is spent, and made 38 recommendations for action.
Source: Dealing with Offending by Young People, Auditor General/Accounts Commission (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
A report examined the feasibility of establishing a youth court in Scotland. It recommended a system allowing dedicated youth court sheriffs to review an offender s progress throughout their order, and multi-disciplinary teams to supervise young offenders and provide a flexible new range of programmes - including elements of reparation and support services - which are able to address the whole of the young person s needs.
Source: Youth Court Feasibility Project Group Report, Justice Department/Scottish Executive (0131 244 5434)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report
Date: 2002-Dec
A Scottish Executive report proposed a range of measures to support young runaways and children at risk of sexual exploitation through prostitution.
Source: Vulnerable Children: Young runaways and children abused through prostitution, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A report drew on quantitative and qualitative research to establish the incidence and characteristics of child poverty in Scotland, to compare poverty in social inclusion partnerships, and to examine the role of social inclusion partnerships in tackling the problem.
Source: Peter Kemp, Jo Dean and Daniel Mackay, Child Poverty in Social Inclusion Partnerships, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The Scottish Executive published its third annual report on its social justice agenda. It simultaneously announced that, in line with the commitment to eradicate child poverty within a generation, 31 million is to be spent over the next three years on initiatives that help families find their way out of poverty. Campaigners reportedly accused the Executive of issuing misleading statistics on the fall in child poverty since 1997.
Source: Social Justice ...A Scotland where Everyone Matters - Annual Report 2002, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566) | Press release 18.11.02, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400) | Community Care, 19.11.02
Links: Report | Press release | Community Care article
Date: 2002-Nov
Failings in child protection services in Scotland
An official report found that half of children at risk of abuse or neglect in Scotland are not being adequately protected or cared for.
Source: 'It s everyone s job to make sure I m alright': Report of the Child Protection Audit and Review, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | Press release | Community Care article
Date: 2002-Nov
A review examined policy, practice and research in Scotland regarding young disabled people as they become adults, and made a series of recommendations for improving support.
Source: Kirsten Stalker, Young Disabled People Moving into Adulthood in Scotland, Foundations N42, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (01904 629241)
Links: JRF Foundations N42
Date: 2002-Nov
A research briefing explored divorce in Scotland, setting it in its historical context, and examining recent trends.
Source: Fran Wasoff, Divorce in Scotland, Research Briefing 6, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships/University of Edinburgh (0131 651 1832)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A study in Scotland found that successful youth projects are often the result of young people themselves being involved in all stages of the project.
Source: Emily Bain, Social Inclusion in Rural Areas: Innovative Projects for Young People, Scottish Executive (0131 244 7560)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Oct
Researchers found that people working in social inclusion partnerships in Scotland have a much wider perspective on child poverty than simply insufficient income, but that nonetheless child poverty is not being tackled in a strategic manner.
Source: Peter Kemp, Jo Dean and Daniel Mackay, Child Poverty in Social Inclusion Partnerships, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
A study found that a programme in central Scotland has had a positive impact on offending and anti-social behaviour among vulnerable children, as well as on their physical health, parental management and support, school attainment and behaviour at school.
Source: Gill McIvor with Kristina Moodie, Evaluation of the Matrix Project, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2002-Oct
The Scottish Executive published a draft strategy for reducing the level of domestic abuse.
Source: Draft National Prevention Strategy: Domestic Abuse 2002, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Strategy
Date: 2002-Oct
Researchers in Scotland found evidence of increased anxiety on the part of parents about their ability to discipline their children, together with a greater sense of being held to account for their behaviour.
Source: Simon Anderson and Lorraine Murray, Disciplining Children: Research with Parents in Scotland, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 5.2
Date: 2002-Sep
The Scottish Executive set out the role of an independent Commissioner for children and young people; the Commissioner would focus on promoting and safeguarding children s rights, communicating with children, investigations, and promoting good practice.
Source: Scottish Executive Response to the Report from the Education, Culture and Sport Committee Report on a Proposed Commissioner for Children and Young People Bill, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Response (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
A report presented the findings from a large scale investigation into runaway children in Scotland; while many ran away to escape abuse, many more experienced further abuse on the streets.
Source: Jim Wade, Missing Out: Young runaways in Scotland, Aberlour Child Care Trust (0141 226 3700)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 5.2
Date: 2002-Jul
A committee of MSPs backed the establishment of a Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland.
Source: Report on Proposed Commissioner for Children and Young People Bill, 11th Report 2002, SP Paper 617, Scottish Parliament Education, Culture and Sport Committee, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 5.2
Date: 2002-Jul
Researchers found significant variations in arrangements for young people in Scotland leaving care.
Source: J. Dixon and M. Stein, Still a Bairn: Throughcare and Aftercare Services in Scotland, Scottish Executive (web only)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119 (paragraph 5.3)
Date: 2002-Jun
Researchers found significant benefits from the 'Sure Start' programme (for vulnerable and deprived families with young children) in Scotland.
Source: S. Cunningham-Burley et al., Sure Start Scotland Mapping Exercise, Scottish Executive (web only)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119 (paragraph 3.2)
Date: 2002-May
