The Chair of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) has congratulated Wolverhampton’s Youth Offending Service (YOS) on a positive inspection report.

The Chair of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) has congratulated Wolverhampton’s Youth Offending Service (YOS) on a positive inspection report.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation, which today published the inspection findings, described the report into the work of the YOS as ‘a creditable set of findings’ and praised the service for its ‘well organised systems’ and ‘strong ethos of collaborative working’.

The report is part of a national Inspection of Youth Offending which began in 2009.

Wolverhampton achieved a score of 81% against a national average of 67% in safeguarding, 74% against a 62% average in risk of harm to others and 78% against an average of 70% on preventing young people reoffending.

The Chair of the YJB Frances Done said: “I’d like to congratulate staff at  Wolverhampton Youth Offending Service on a very positive inspection report.

“The findings are testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.

“Youth offending services work with some of the most challenging young people in the local area to help make our communities safer places to live.”

The YJB’s Annual Workload Data for 09/10, published by the Ministry of Justice, shows 324 fewer crimes were committed by young people aged 10 to 17 in Wolverhampton in 2009/10 compared with the previous year.

Notes to editors

1. The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales. We work to prevent offending and reoffending by children and young people under the age of 18, and to ensure that custody for them is safe, secure, and addresses the causes of their offending behaviour.

2. Specifically, we advise Secretary of State for justice on the operation of, and standards for, the youth justice system; monitor the performance of the youth justice system; purchase places for, and place, children and young people remanded or sentenced to custody; identify and promote effective practice; make grants to local authorities or other bodies to support the development of effective practice; commission research and publish information.