Police Early Action Team - Training

AuthorityIsle of Man Constabulary
Date received2024-08-28
OutcomeSome information sent but not all held
Outcome date2024-09-23
Case ID4087093

Summary

The Isle of Man Constabulary responded to a request regarding Police Early Action Team (PEAT) training, confirming that only one staff member received restorative justice training in 2022 and no conferences have been held. The authority disclosed details about the Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate costs and providers but clarified that no PEAT officers are currently studying it and there are no senior managers within the team.

Key Facts

  • Only one current PEAT team member has received Restorative Justice Training.
  • No restorative justice conferences involving offenders and victims have been held by PEAT.
  • No PEAT officers are currently studying the Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate.
  • The PEAT team has no senior managers; new members are overseen by a qualified PEAT officer.
  • The Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate costs £1200 and is provided by UNITAS.

Data Disclosed

  • 15 – 17th April 2022
  • None
  • £1200
  • NVQ Level 5
  • 2024-08-28
  • 2024-09-23

Original Request

Question 1: Can the Isle of Man Constabulary (IOMC), in relation to the Police Early Action Team (PEAT)l, confirm what courses have been provided to their staff delivering interventions with children and young people, in respect of restorative justice - both restorative practices, and delivering restorative justice interventions? Question 2: Can the IOMC confirm when the restorative justice training was delivered, how long the course/training took, and who was the training provider of the restorative justice practices and interventions courses? Question 3: How many restorative justice conferences have been held that have included both the offender and the aggrieved person (or victim)? Question 4: How many of the restorative justice conferences that were completed (outlined in a response to question 3 above) and what were the forms of reparations that were completed by the children and young people? Question 5: How many of the youth offending workers PEAT are currently: Studying the Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate? When were the PEAT officers enrolled onto the Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate? Questions 6: How much did the Effective Practice Certificate Cost? Who is the provider of the Effective Practice Certificate? Question 7: What approved risk assessment are the PEAT using when they meet with a child or young person who may either come to the attention of the IOMC and are referred to the PEAT, or for those who may have committed a first offence? Question 8: Minister Jane Poole-Wilson claimed that "There is no requirement for a formal qualification in youth justice in order for an officer to work in the PEAT team. This is similar in approach to the UK Prison and Probation Service, which states that personal skills such as resilience, patience and problem solving are more important than formal qualifications for youth justice workers.". The above statement is is only possible due to new unqualified staff being supervised by senior staff and managers who are qualified. What are the relevant qualifications and experience of senior staff and managers in the PEAT which are relevant to working with, and addressing, children and young people who may have offended and are referred to the PEAT practice?

Data Tables (1)

NVQ Level 5 qualified in IAG (Information,
Advice & Guidance) which is equivalent Higher Education Diploma/Foundation
Degree.

Full Response Text

Isle of Man Constabulary Freedom of Information Police Headquarters Dukes Avenue Douglas Isle of Man IM2 4RG

Our ref: 4087093 23 September 2024

Dear

We write further to your request, received 28 August 2024, which states:

"Question 1:
Can the Isle of Man Constabulary (IOMC), in relation to the Police Early Action Team (PEAT)l, confirm what courses have been provided to their staff delivering interventions with children and young people, in respect of restorative justice - both restorative practices, and delivering restorative justice interventions? - Restorative Justice Training given to one current member of the PEAT team.

Question 2:
Can the IOMC confirm when the restorative justice training was delivered, how long the course/training took, and who was the training provider of the restorative justice practices and interventions courses? - 15 – 17th April 2022. Provided by Restorative Solutions

Question 3:
How many restorative justice conferences have been held that have included both the offender and the aggrieved person (or victim)? – None.

Question 4:
How many of the restorative justice conferences that were completed (outlined in a response to question 3 above) and what were the forms of reparations that were completed by the children and young people? – N/A

Question 5:
How many of the youth offending workers PEAT are currently:

Studying the Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate? - None
When were the PEAT officers enrolled onto the Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate? – N/A

Questions 6:
How much did the Effective Practice Certificate Cost? - £1200
Who is the provider of the Effective Practice Certificate? - Provider of the YJEPC is UNITAS and is accredited by Skills for Justice Awards, endorsed by the Youth Justice

Board and recognised by the University of Suffolk

Question 7:
What approved risk assessment are the PEAT using when they meet with a child or young person who may either come to the attention of the IOMC and are referred to the PEAT, or for those who may have committed a first offence? - PEAT uses a document approved by IOMC that would highlight any concerns with children.

Question 8:
Minister Jane Poole-Wilson claimed that "There is no requirement for a formal qualification in youth justice in order for an officer to work in the PEAT team. This is similar in approach to the UK Prison and Probation Service, which states that personal skills such as resilience, patience and problem solving are more important than formal qualifications for youth justice workers.".

The above statement is is only possible due to new unqualified staff being supervised by senior staff and managers who are qualified.

What are the relevant qualifications and experience of senior staff and managers in the PEAT which are relevant to working with, and addressing, children and young people who may have offended and are referred to the PEAT practice?" - There are no senior managers in PEAT. Within the small team the newest member is overseen by qualified PEAT officer. (Qualified PSO and also NVQ Level 5 qualified in IAG (Information, Advice & Guidance) which is equivalent – Higher Education Diploma/Foundation Degree. The other team member is a long serving Police Officer who worked as the seconded Youth Offending Team Officer in the North East Lincs YOT for 3 years and has 27.5 years police service.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. Information not held.

I have detailed below the information that is held.

Please quote the reference number 4087093 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

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An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely