CYP Now understands that Ian McPherson – assistant commissioner at the Met Police and ACPO's lead for children – will not be replaced when he retires in the new year, although the business area and associated portfolios will remain.
A spokesman for ACPO refused to confirm whether McPherson would be replaced, stating that "it is possible for the work of business areas to continue even if there isn't a chair at a particular time".
The prospective loss of the role and McPherson himself, who has been seen as a champion of progressive policing policies towards children, has sparked concerns that there could be less of a focus on the area in the future.
Tim Bateman, criminologist at the University of Bedfordshire, said McPherson has overseen much progress in the system, including fewer first-time entrants into the justice system and increased partnership working at local level.
"If there is not somebody within the police driving that I would guess those achievements and positive gains might be at risk," he said.
"The other area where young people may lose out is in relation to areas of partnership work in services. With cuts in police budgets already a concern, they could retract into core areas of delivery, and that is not partnership work.
"In some areas youth offending team managers have been struggling to maintain a presence from police. Ian McPherson has been quite central in keeping that on the agenda even though the decision is a local one.
"Without someone promoting local partnerships it is much less likely those kinds of commitments will be honoured."
Earlier this month a CYP Now survey revealed that youth offending teams are having representation withdrawn from statutory partners, including the police.
