YJB 'could win reprieve'
Neil Puffett
Monday, September 12, 2011
The government is considering a dramatic U-turn on plans to abolish the Youth Justice Board (YJB) as a result of last month's riots, CYP Now understands.
Legislation to axe a number of quangos is currently going through parliament and despite opposition to the abolition of the YJB from the House of Lords, plans were drawn up to incorporate the YJB’s remit into the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
The MoJ today denied there has been a change of heart, but senior youth justice figures have told CYP Now the move is now in question due to strong sector support for the organisation and fears a unit within the MoJ would not be able to cope with major incidents like the riots as well as the YJB.
One source described the situation regarding abolition as shifting from "done and dusted" a month ago, to the government now "pausing for thought" on the issue.
Another source said they now believe the likelihood of the YJB being retained to be "slightly better than 50:50".
It is understood that the support provided by the YJB to youth offending teams following the riots has been recognised by government.
Last month YJB chair Frances Done criticised the government's decision to axe the quango, claiming the Ministry of Justice would have found it "impossible" to handle the pressure on the youth justice system caused by the riots.
Meanwhile, responses to a consultation on the plans are believed to be overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the YJB.
Di Hart, principal officer of youth justice and welfare at the National Children’s Bureau, said her organisation will support the YJB in its response to government.
Andrew Webb, policy lead on youth justice at the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said he would be surprised if the MoJ isn’t considering a U-turn in the wake of last month’s unrest. "The chair [Frances Done] has certainly made a strong case," he said.
The decision to abolish the YJB was announced in October last year as part of the government's drive to reduce the number of quangos.
According to a government impact assessment, published in June, it was planned for the YJB to be incorporated into the MoJ as part of a youth justice division by as early as April 2012.
A MoJ spokesman said: "It remains the government’s intention to abolish the Youth Justice Board."