Former children's commissioner for Wales among six new YJB board members

In addition to Towler, former police officer Keith Fraser, education consultant Sharon Gray, criminology academic professor Neal Hazel, head of early help and family services at Surrey County Council Ben Byrne, and chief executive of the Isle of Wight Youth Trust Mairead Healy, have also been appointed.

Towler, who was the children's commissioner for Wales from 2008 to 2015, has been specifically appointed as member with experience of the youth justice system in Wales.

The new appointments join four existing members of the board, former president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services Sir Alan Wood, former chief constable of Lincolnshire Police Neil Rhodes, former policy adviser at the Department of Health Gillian Fairfield, and Bryan Tytherleigh, a former director of operations at the National College of Teaching and Leadership, who have all been reappointed.

The appointments are from 1 January 2018 for tenures of three and four years.

A total of seven people have left the board, including Carol Homden, David Banks, John Wrangham, Tony Sewell, Christine Davies, Rob Butler, and Seamus Oates.

Charlie Taylor, chair of the YJB said: "I am delighted at the appointment of such a talented group of people to the YJB's board, who bring with them a wealth of experience of working with children across a range of organisations.

"I would like to thank the outgoing board members for their hard work and dedication. I look forward to working closely with my new colleagues on reform which has a positive and meaningful impact on children in the youth justice system."