Managers brand youth offending team stocktake ‘a cover for cuts'

The Association of YOT Managers (AYM) said a recent Ministry of Justice (MoJ) “stocktake” into the work of local YOTs was more focused on where cash can be saved than understanding the value of the work they do.

When the MoJ review was initially announced last November, youth justice minister Andrew Selous said he wanted to understand the different methods and structures being utilised by YOTs across England and Wales.

The MoJ was immediately forced to refute suggestions from within the sector that the review was “about privatisation".

Gareth Jones, chair of AYM, said it now appears that the review is being used to identify areas where savings can be made.

“The survey they sent out was heavily biased towards financial outcomes,” Jones said.

“My concern is that they are looking for ways to disinvest without realising what the outcomes of that disinvestment would be.”

“The money you put into a YOT is very small relatively compared to the huge pay-outs in terms of crime reduction.

“We are very good value for money but that will not be seen if you just take a narrow view,” he added.

Jones said the youth justice sector has already been severely hit by financial cutbacks over the last five years, and claims a further round of cuts would leave many YOTs unable to invest in any wider crime prevention and early intervention work.

“Our fear is that when ministers consider these reports they won’t see the value of the non-statutory, preventative work that we do,” he added.

The AYM is also critical of the stocktake for not including YOT representation in the process.

“We offered them an experienced YOT manager to help them interpret their results but the Ministry of Justice gently declined,” Jones said.

“As a result we may very well get a flawed outcome from a flawed process.”

The Ministry of Justice has been contacted for comment.