Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice (Sir ): I am pleased to announce
the review of the Youth Justice Board (YJB). This review is being
conducted as part of the Public Bodies Review Programme, which
aims to ensure that public bodies are operating effectively, and
that their functions remain useful and necessary.
An efficient and effective youth justice system is essential for
preventing crime and keeping communities safe. In line with our
safer streets mission, it is vital that we have robust systems in
place to stop young people being drawn into crime. Equally, we
must support children who do find themselves in contact with the
youth justice system to ensure they do not enter a cycle of crime
which continues into adulthood.
The youth justice system is a complex one, requiring
collaboration between many government departments, agencies and
public and voluntary services. Whilst there is much to celebrate,
including a significant reduction in the number of children in
custody in the last decade, it is right that we regularly review
how our structures, system and agencies operate to ensure they
are as effective and efficient as possible.
The YJB was set up to play a critical role in delivering positive
outcomes for children in contact with the criminal justice
system, and to provide oversight, assurance and technical
expertise around the operation of the youth justice system.
However, much time has passed since the last Cabinet Office
review of the YJB in 2013; since then, the youth justice
landscape, and YJB itself, have changed significantly.
With that in mind, this review is an opportunity to consider
whether the YJB's statutory functions remain useful and
necessary, where these functions should sit, and whether the YJB'
s current delivery model remains appropriate. This review will
also be key to assessing how the YJB and department should work
together to deliver ministerial priorities and deliver value for
money.
This review will ensure that our current arrangements actively
support the essential work undertaken by youth justice services
and support the effective delivery of the department's priorities
for youth justice and reducing reoffending.
I have appointed Steve Crocker (former President of the
Association of Directors of Children's Services) to lead on the
review. He is independent from the Ministry of Justice and will
provide objective analysis of the YJB and the department. Steve
Crocker will also lead a period of stakeholder engagement across
England and Wales.
I will make a further announcement on completion of the review in
Spring 2025. Following this, I will set out the Government's
response.
