Professional Documents
Culture Documents
This pack is a simple guide to the procedures that you must follow having arrested a
youth; that is someone aged 10 -17 inclusive. Also applies for all other YOT referrals.
Custody
Procedures
Youths UNDER age 18 require an appropriate adult. This should be their parent or
guardian. Where they are not available (or where they are involved in the matter for which
the youth has been arrested) contact the Youth Offending Service Triage Officer (07947
381254) or call The Appropriate Adult Service if outside office hours.
All youths under age 18 now require an appropriate adult.
Be guided by the Custody Officer for initial booking in procedures.
Advise the Custody officer of any PNC Warning Signals.
Establish whether the youth is a PPO (Prolific and Priority Offender) or a DYO (Deter
Young Offender). These markers will be on PNC. Immediately inform the Custody Officer
and the Duty officer. These youths receive a Premium Service and all papers should be
marked PPO or DYO.
Merlin
Triage
The arresting officer MUST complete a Merlin PAC at the earliest opportunity after
booking-in. This ensures that the MPS complies with its Every Child Matters obligations.
Results of background checks on CRIS, Crimint and Merlin must be shown after the details.
All arrests are to be notified by phone to Ealing YJS whatever the time. Leave a
message if no reply. (07947 381254). During Office Hours Monday to Friday the Youth
Justice Service (YOS) Triage Officer will request personal details and brief circumstances
of the arrest. They will then research and notify of their background information.
Continue with the investigation in the normal manner.
Case Disposal.
Where it is necessary to follow lines of enquiry beyond the initial time in custody the youth is
to be bailed in the normal way. In conjunction with the Evidential Review Officer (ERO) the
YOS triage officer (if available) is to be consulted about bail considerations and will have
information about court orders and compliance that may be relevant to bail decisions.
Where there evidence of sufficient quality to justify a charge for an offence then the
ERO will decide whether the youth is to be charged or be referred to the YOT police for
an Out of Court disposal. See below.
PTO
Disposals
Triage 3
The key factors here are whether the youth has fully admitted the offence and what
their disposal history (if any) is. Charge only where especially dangerous or prolific.
The ERO will decide whether the case should be charged or whether it should be referred
to YOT police for an Out of Court disposal.
EROs do NOT have to decide which Out of Court Disposal.
All Out of Court Disposal referrals should be notified to YOT police officers on a short email
to XB Mailbox - YOTS Digital Files. A COPA file is required and the ERO must authorise
the YOT referral on it. 14 working day bail applies.
Charges are undertaken in the usual manner.
Triage 3 (Criminal Justice Disposal) after YOT referral
Where Ealing Youth Justice Service decide that the youth is NOT eligible for Triage 1
diversion they will receive a Criminal Justice Sanction. That may be a Youth Caution, a
Youth Conditional Caution or the case may be referred back for Charge.
Triage 1
Criminal
Justice
Disposals
Cautions. These will be administered by the YOT Police. For cases where a youth has
already done Triage 1 Diversion or has some other criminal justice disposal and this new
offence is relatively minor. Any interventions are not enforceable.
Conditional Cautions. As for cautions but generally for more serious offences and/or where
it is necessary to impose conditions that are enforceable. Breaches will lead to prosecution
for the original offence.
PNDs are now not applicable for anyone under the age of 18
Caution
Plus 3 and
other cases
for disposal
but where
youth not
arrested
Start Here
Charge
Disposal
Charge
In all cases:
If PPO/DYO inform Duty
Officer and mark file
Premium Service
For all arrests complete
Merlin with result of
initial background
checks on bottom of
incident details page. The
ERO will need the
background information.
NPW
Case
papers
clearly
marked
NPW
filed as
per
Borough
policy