Review of Gatekeeping Role in Young Offenders Act


Barrier 4 - YLOs are not ranked highly enough to carry out their responsibilities effectively

86. In relation to the status of YLOs the following comments were made:

Should YLOs be rank of Sergeant? I believe they should.

Rank and position of the YLO within the LAC structure, should be rank of sergeant.

Senior police not taking notice of YLO - I am constable, they are senior constables sergeants etc.

Lack of support from middle and upper management in position of YLO.

87. Garner Clancy, Youth Policy Officer with the Police Service, conducted a survey involving 87 YLOs in July and August 1999 in relation to resources and other barriers to the implementation of the Act. The results were that:

• 41 Local Area Commands responded to the first survey in relation to the hours that the YLO spent on YLO duties, revealing that:
  • 24 LACs had a full time YLO;
  • 14 LACs had a YLO who worked between 16-30 hours a week;
  • 2 LACs had a YLO who worked between 6-15 hours a week; and
  • 1 LACs had a YLO who worked between 0-5 hours a week; and
  • 21 LACs required their YLO to undertake other duties.
• 43 LACs responded to the second survey indicating that YLOs were concerned about: lack of support, loss of career development; lack of resources; lack of understanding and respect for the role; and balancing competing priorities. Positive aspects were: good outcomes with young people from cautions and conferences; positive feedback from schools; seeing young people and parents working together; and networking.

88. In response to these surveys the Police Service has developed a number of strategies set out in the Proposed and Current Strategies Document. These are quoted below.

'The Institute of Criminology has submitted a Maurice Byers funding proposal to the Centre for Applied Policing Research to conduct a review of the Youth Liaison Officer role. The proposal, developed in conjunction with the Operational Programs Branch, is seeking funding to analyse the function of the position, responsibilities, support and career development of Youth Liaison Officers.'