The criminal justice (children) (northern ireland) order: A long time coming; was it worth the wait?

The Report of the Children and Young Persons Review Group (the Black Report) was published in 1979. It was commissioned in 1976 by the then Labour government. Over 20 years later the new Labour government will pass the Criminal Justice (Children) (NI) Order through an order in council. Between these two events a radical and reforming Conservative government has changed the political and economic landscape. The new legislation has been a long time coming. Harold MacMillan is said to have remarked, when faced with a major policy decision “die best thing to do is do nothing and do it for as long as possible.” Given the constant changes in the criminal justice system the government has imposed in England and Wales without any tangible benefits, this might not have been a bad plan. However, is the legislation based upon outmoded 70's thinking or is it relevant to today's problems and solutions?