Lord Chancellor launches review of youth justice system

The Lord Chancellor has announced a departmental review of the youth justice system, which will look at whether current arrangements are fit for purpose.

It will be led by Charlie Taylor, former chief executive of the National College of Teaching and Leadership and an ex-head teacher.

As part of the review Taylor will also look at the evidence and current practice in preventing youth crime and rehabilitating young offenders, and explore how the youth justice system can most effectively interact with wider services for children and young people.

He will be expected to report in the summer of 2016.

In a statement to Parliament Michael Gove said: “In recent years we have seen a significant and welcome reduction in the number of young people entering the youth justice system. However, little progress has been made in reducing reoffending, with 67% of young people leaving custody reoffending within a year.

“The time is right to examine our approach to tackling youth offending. We need to consider whether the current system, which was created in 2000, remains able to meet the challenges we face in 2015.

“It is vital that we seize the opportunity to rehabilitate young people who have offended, to steer them away from a life of crime, and to set them on a more positive course which will benefit both them and society.”

On Taylor’s appointment, the Lord Chancellor said: “His experience and expertise in working with children with severe behavioural difficulties gives him a real understanding of the wider challenges in preventing youth offending, and I am confident he will bring a fresh perspective and energy to the task.”