Susannah Hancock to lead independent review into girls in custody
YJB Board Member Susannah Hancock has been commissioned to lead an independent review into the placement of girls in custody.
Susannah Hancock
A 3-month review has been commissioned by the Minister for Youth Justice to consider placement options for girls in the children’s secure estate and to make recommendations on what is needed to meet their needs.
Children in youth custody are overwhelmingly boys, and as a result girls’ needs are often unmet, resulting in them experiencing poorer outcomes. Girls make up just 2% of all children in youth custody, with latest figures showing just 10 girls in the youth estate across England and Wales.
Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, Chief Executive of the YJB, says:
The YJB recognises the need for further research into effective interventions and appropriate settings for girls and welcomes the review.
The experience and expertise that Susannah Hancock will bring to the review will be invaluable, and she is well placed to draw upon our growing research and evidence base.
Girls should be placed in secure settings only in exceptional circumstances, and where they are they should be held in places designed to meet their needs.
Minister Dakin states that placements are a vital part of ensuring safe, secure and decent care for children in the secure estate, which remains his top priority.
Youth Custody Service places girls in different secure settings, including secure children’s homes, the new secure school, Oakhill Secure Training Centre and HMYOI Wetherby.
Minister Dakin added:
I’m delighted Susannah will take on this role. She has significant experience and insight across the youth justice system and so will be well-placed to undertake a thorough, objective and evidence-based review.
Responding to her review appointment, Susannah Hancock said:
Girls in custody are among some of the most complex and vulnerable children in the justice system as I have seen first-hand through my work with the Youth Justice Board.
This is a challenging area, and through the course of this review I look forward to hearing from hardworking staff, girls in custody themselves and the wider youth justice sector.
The YJB will continue to influence partners to deliver improvements and achieve outcomes for girls who come into contact with the youth justice system. It continues to identify emerging themes and trends relating to girls through our oversight and report this back to ministers.