Youth Justice Service rated ‘Good’ by inspectors

Lewisham’s Youth Justice Service has been rated as ‘Good’ by HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP).

The rating represents a significant improvement for the service since the last full inspection report in December 2016, which identified several areas requiring improvement. Since then, the service has transformed the way it operates and contributed to a significant decrease in young people becoming caught up in the criminal justice system.

Since 2017, there has been a decrease in the number of children and young people entering the criminal justice system in Lewisham, as well as in re-offending and the number of custodial sentences handed down.

HMIP inspected the Lewisham Council-run service over a period of one week in June. In their report, which was published in September, inspectors commented on the improvements in service delivery that have taken place at the “well respected and influential” service since the last full inspection report.

Inspectors also hailed the service’s focus on anti-racist practice which is geared towards tackling the disproportionate number of young people from a Black and Ethnic Minority background entering the criminal justice system.

The council-run service won two prestigious national MJ Awards –most recently for its pioneering anti-racist work in 2023 and previously for transforming its Youth Justice Service in 2020.

Chris Barnham, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “This report is a huge vote of confidence in the innovative and successful work that is delivering real change for some of our most vulnerable young people. I’m pleased that the inspectorate found significant improvements to the service and would like to thank the hardworking staff as well as our valued partners who have joined us on this journey.”