Youth Custody Service director to leave role after less than six months

Mark Read was appointed to the post last October, a month after the organisation took over responsibility for youth custody from the Youth Justice Board.

But the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has revealed that Read, who had previously been director of criminal justice reform at the department, will be stepping down on 8 April and leaving the civil service.

The role will be covered on an interim basis by Sara Robinson, the service's deputy director. She had previously covered the role before Read joined and since 12 March has been acting director during a handover period.

"Mark is leaving the civil service in April and Sara is acting director until a permanent appointment is made," an MoJ spokesman confirmed.

The creation of the Youth Custody Service, which is part of HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), was first announced by then Justice Secretary Liz Truss in February 2017.

In announcing Read's appointment, HMPPS chief executive Michael Spurr said he had considerable operational and policy experience in youth justice. Among his successor's priorities will be to tackle concerns about violence in youth custody.

A thematic review by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, published earlier this month, found that behavior management schemes in youth custody have been ineffective in tackling violence, which is at historically high levels.

In July 2017 HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke said that youth custody is so dangerous that a tragedy is inevitable unless urgent action is taken.

Also, last July it emerged that the length of time young people in custody spent in education had fallen, despite government efforts to increase classroom time.