ONE in six young offenders in Kirklees are children in care.

And the council-led Safer Stronger Communities Executive will tomorrow look at forming an action plan to reduce offending among them and other young people.

It comes as Kirklees is named the best performer for tackling re-offending in Yorkshire – figures from the Ministry of Justice show re-offending in the borough has reduced by 18.25% when compared with four years ago.

The number of first-time entrants to formal criminal justice systems in Kirklees reduced by 52.5 % – from 600 in 2008/09 to 285 in 2011/12.

But a report, to be considered by councillors and members of the panel, says: “Approximately one in six young people currently supervised by Kirklees Youth Offending Team (YOT) are what is known as ‘looked after children’.

“Studies have shown that being in care can often result in more children and young people being brought into the criminal justice system than those who are not looked after.

“Many of these young people receive their first court disposal whilst subject to local authority care. Aspirations for these young people are often low.

“Through development of provision within the YOT and working closely with the local authority looked-after children team and other agencies, the YOT will work towards reducing offending and reoffending and the improvement of initial and longer term outcomes for looked-after children and young people.”

The panel will also highlight work in other priority areas – including assisting offenders who have mental health problems. They say criminal justice officials need to work with healthcare providers to commission health services in police cells.

The report also says gender-appropriate support for women needs introducing to reduce the impact of a mother’s offending on children, as a “significant number” of women are also the primary carers of their children.

Other priorities include developing employment opportunities for offenders to reduce the risk of re-offending.

One such employment skills programme is currently running at Leeds Prison in Armley, run by Oxfam and targeted at Kirklees offenders. They work in the charity’s centres, recycling old clothing.

Figures show that in Kirklees 46% of people under Probation supervision were unemployed or have specific training or educational needs.

The priorities will be discussed at the meeting of the Safer Stronger Communities Executive tomorrow at 10am at Huddersfield Town Hall.