Secure estate to be safer, says YJB

Proposed improvements to youth custody, outlined today (19 July) in the YJB’s secure estate strategy, include creating smaller units, improving staff training and ramping up efforts to help young offenders when they leave custody.

The document states that the secure estate should be recognised as specialist provision and a distinctive approach is required.

Frances Done, chair of the YJB, told CYP Now recent falls in numbers of children in custody will allow for greater focus on individual needs.

She said she wanted the outcome to be that children in custody are safe and supported in such a way as they have the "maximum chance not to re-offend when they leave custody".

"Our whole approach is to minimise the possibility of them re-offending," she said. "That requires a whole range of support in regimes and that is what this strategy is all about."

The strategy proposes to work with the National Offender Management Service (Noms) to implement a workforce development strategy that recruits and trains staff who want to work specifically with young people.

It will also seek to improve rehabilitation, ensure appropriate access to health services, and ensure strong links between custodial establishments and local authority children’s services departments.

The document will go out to consultation for 12 weeks with a response due to be published in November.

Youth justice minister Crispin Blunt said: "Custody is the appropriate punishment for those young people who commit the most persistent and serious crimes.

"As this consultation sets out, custody should punish and protect but it should also be a vital opportunity to set young people on a more constructive path, helping them address their offending behaviour.

"I look forward to developing and delivering a strategy with partners that will ensure a safe, secure and effective custodial estate."