Longfield, whose six-year term as commissioner ended in February, said she fears there could be a sharp rise in exclusions when schools reopen next month, due to so many children being home-schooled since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, meaning far more children could be at risk of criminal exploitation by gangs.
She will conduct the review alongside Oasis Charitable Trust, which runs schools across the country in disadvantaged areas, and is due to launch the country's first secure school for young offenders by the end of next year.
“For some months now, charities have been telling me that the drugs market is booming,” Longfield told The Observer.
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