Speaking at the Youth Justice Board's annual convention last week, Peter Clarke said policy is "at best confused, at worst incoherent" and warned conflicting messages are having a negative impact on young people, particularly in the youth justice system.
"There are some very good initiatives that only a fool would speak against," he said. "But there is no way we are going to square the circle when the fundamental value base is so split."
Rod Morgan, the chair of the Youth Justice Board, said: "I'm afraid there is no resolution to the issue, it is a question of balance. There is no inherent contradiction, but at the moment I'm not convinced we've got the balance right. I do feel we are punitive in this country."
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