Board fails to meet key targets in Wales

The Youth Justice Board missed several key targets in Wales by substantial margins last year, new figures have revealed.

The Welsh assembly’s social justice and regeneration committee was told the YJB missed 2004-5 targets on assessing young offenders for mental health and substance misuse problems and providing access to training and employment.

Youth offending teams only referred 39 per cent of those thought to have acute mental health problems for formal assessment, and only half of those with non-acute needs, despite a requirement for all to be appropriately referred.

The YJB is also required to screen all young offenders for substance misuse and carry out a needs assessment for those that require it, but 26 per cent did not receive this.

Nine out of 10 young offenders supervised by YOTs are expected to be in full-time education, training or employment, but only seven out of 10 were last year.