Jane Hutt AM, Deputy Minister and Chief Whip
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
I outlined in my correspondence to Assembly Members on 5 April 2019 that I was extremely concerned with the findings of the HM Inspectorate of report on the Western Bay Youth Justice and Early Intervention Service published on 28 March 2019.
My officials continue to work closely with the Youth Justice Board Cymru and Youth Custody Service, as both bodies seek, alongside others, to urgently address the findings of the report.
I raised the issue with Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, Edward Argar MP during a meeting with him on 24 April 2019, and was re-assured that a number of important steps have already been put in place to address the report’s findings including the offer of support to Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend Local Authorities around the management of the disaggregation process creating separate Youth Offending teams, one in each of the three Local Authorities involved.
The Welsh Government wants to see in place the best possible services to support the rehabilitation of young offenders and to prevent young people from becoming involved in crime, and we will continue to work closely with the full range of partner organisations to ensure an effective response and improvements where required.