Background Part 2: Courts and Justice Section 18: Youth courts to have jurisdiction to grant gang-related injunctions
24.Gang-related injunctions were introduced by the Policing and Crime Act 2009, which made provision for civil injunctions to be granted by the county court (or High Court) on application by the police or local authority in order to prevent gang related violence. This was amended by the Crime and Security Act 2010 to enable gang-related injunctions to be taken out against those aged between 14 and 17 by creating two new penalties for breach.
25.Section 18, which also introduces Schedule 12, makes amendments to provide for applications for gang-related injunctions for 14 to 17 year olds to be heard in the youth court, sitting in a civil capacity, rather than in the county court (or High Court). The effect of this measure will be to allow the courts with the most appropriate facilities and expertise in dealing with young people to consider these matters.