“We warmly welcome the appointment of the Rt Hon David Lammy MP as Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.
“David Lammy has a long record of championing fairness, equality, and the welfare of children. His leadership of the landmark Lammy Review provided a clear focus on addressing disproportionality across the justice system and has shaped much of the debate about how justice can be made fairer and more effective.
“The Youth Justice Board shares these ambitions. Our mission is to ensure children are treated fairly, supported to fulfil their potential, and diverted from pathways that lead to future offending which can cause harm to themselves and others. We know that tackling disproportionality is central to this mission and to delivering safer communities.
“The Minister’s earlier advocacy for a public health response to serious offending by children remains as crucial today as it has ever been, and we have always endorsed his consistent support to adequately resource services that provide protection for children at risk of entering the justice system.
“At a time when there is both challenge and opportunity in the justice system, we look forward to working with the Lord Chancellor to build on this important legacy and provide the independent evidence-based advice that can shape outcomes for children, victims and communities. By drawing on the voices of children and their victims, the evidence of what works, and the strengths of local practice, we can continue to make progress in reducing disproportionality, strengthening prevention, and tackling serious offending by children, ensuring communities become safer and reducing victims.
“We look forward to a strong and constructive partnership in the months ahead.”
