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Revamp for juvenile caution scheme

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POLICE will give people under the age of 18 up to three reprimands before charging them with a crime in a major revamp of the controversial juvenile cautioning system.

Under the changes, the age limit for cautions will rise from 17 and parental consent will be needed before offenders can be admonished.

The Fight Crime Committee (FCC) will meet next month to sanction the proposals.

Sources say the changes represent the first time the Police Superintendents' Discretion Scheme has been altered in its 31-year history.

For the past year, an FCC committee under the chairmanship of Solicitor-General Anthony Duckett has been reviewing the performance of the scheme against a backdrop of increasing juvenile crime, especially drug offences.

It is understood the reforms focus on four main points: Lifting the age limit for cautions from 17 to 18; Giving juvenile offenders the chance to be cautioned three times - instead of once - to avoid the stigma of a criminal record; Formalising an inter-departmental referral programme for young people seen as having potential problems; Insisting that parents or guardians agree - and are present - during the cautioning.

It will be suggested that multiple cautions be given only with the consent of the Attorney-General's chambers.

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