The Home Office has called on youth justice agencies, local communities and young people themselves to help the government develop their work to steer young people away from crime.

A consultation document has been published entitled "Youth justice - The next steps".

Forum Response: British Youth Council

Blossom Young, chair of BYC, told ePolitix.com: "It should be remembered that young people are the largest group who are victims of crime and perhaps young people should also be supported to sit on the on order referral boards.

"However, BYC is also concerned that once again children and young people are being seen as either needing protection, or as a problem to wider community and society. BYC believes that current policy initiatives are missing the point about the development of young people and their positive place in society.

"BYC would argue that young people can be part of the solution and young people at risk of offending or currently offending should be consulted to specifically address some of the reasons behind their offending and seeing how they can contribute to solving community issues".

Forum Response: National Youth Agency

Hilary Spires, director of communications at the NYA, told ePolitix.com: "'Youth Justice - The Next Steps' is a very mixed bag.

"On the up side the NYA is pleased that it retains the right of trial by jury for young people and proposes training specialist crown court judges for young people.

"We are also pleased that it proposes developing a Young Defendant's Pack and the use of plain English to assist defendants and their carers to participate in court processes.

"On the down side The NYA is concerned that it has ignored a strong lobby to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 and that it proposes just one sentencing principle, that of preventing youth offending.

"It rejects a critical complementary principle of Safeguarding the Welfare of Children and Young People. Thus many welfare-oriented agencies will find it more difficult to have a role, both pre- and post-sentence.

"We are also disappointed that it has lowered the age from 14 to 12 for those who can be incarcerated as part of detention and training orders."