Important review of the Youth Justice System in England and Wales available now on line from the UK gov website – https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/577103/youth-justice-review-final-report.pdf
Has some challenging things to say about creating more integrated child services which could have all sorts of implications in terms of local reorganisation and associated distribution of funding.
Here’s an interesting quote from the papers introduction:
“Almost all of the causes of childhood offending lie beyond the reach of the youth justice system. It is vital that health, education, social care and other services form part of an integrated, multi-agency response to a child’s offending, but it is more desirable that these same services intervene with at-risk children and families before their problems manifest themselves in offending. I believe this is best achieved by devolving greater freedoms and responsibility for the youth justice system to local authorities who otherwise hold the statutory accountability for educating and protecting children.”