Persistent young offenders in the Bradford district are being brought to justice in record time, it was revealed today.

Latest figures show the average time from arrest to sentence at Bradford and Keighley Youth Courts during the first quarter of 1999 was 38 days - smashing the 71-day Home Office target.

And the success in fast tracking persistent offenders with three or more convictions is speeding up cases involving all young offenders so they are dealt with in less than 80 days.

The courts, probation service, the district's Youth Offending Team (YOT), police and the Crown Prosecution Service are now all working in partnership to speed up justice.

Paul O'Hara, manager of Bradford and district YOT, says the multi-agency approach to the problem is now starting to pay dividends.

He explained: "Offenders are now being arrested and charged to appear for a first hearing within 14 days. In addition, pre-sentence reports are now prepared within 15 days, and in some cases, new information is delivered to Magistrates on the day to avoid cases being adjourned.

"Everyone involved in the partnership is delighted with these figures, and we are looking to reduce the average time from arrest to sentence even further."

Bradford's magistrates won special praise from Home Secretary Jack Straw in October last year when a 17-year-old car thief was arrested, charged and sentenced in just 23 hours - thought to be a national record.

Mr O'Hara said the fast-track system helped reduce the fear of crime - a key target of the district's Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy - by showing victims and the public that offenders are being brought to justice swiftly.

David Chandler, clerk to the Bradford justices, added: "The courts can't do a great deal to speed up the system without the co-operation of other agencies.

"Now everyone is working to the same agenda we can reduce the arrest to sentence times for all young offenders - not just persistent offenders."

The Home Office set the 71-day target last year, after a study found the national average to be 142 days. Bradford was just below the national average. Since then it has improved from 80 days in January 1998, to 69 days in the final two months of last year, and an average of 38 days from January to March 1999.

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