AYJ members meet with MoJ’s Head of Youth Justice Policy Unit

Last week, we hosted a meeting for AYJ Members to meet Alan Webster, who joined the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) as the Head of the Youth Justice Policy Unit earlier this year.

Alan is responsible for overseeing the youth justice system’s reform and delivery – from early intervention and diversionary activity through courts, sentencing, custody and resettlement policy. Before joining the MoJ to take up this role, he worked in the No10 Delivery Unit advising the Prime Minister on crime and justice delivery issues, and held various other policy and strategy roles in the Home Office and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.  

As part of his introduction to his new role, Alan met with AYJ members to introduce himself and the upcoming work of his team, to find out more about AYJ member organisations and perspectives about what needs to change in the youth justice system. Alan highlighted some of the key issues from his first six months in the role, including: the future of the children’s secure estate and what changes can be made to deliver better for children in custody, the youth justice in the allocation of funds from the Spending Review, supporting ministers around the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill, and looking ahead at the implementation of youth justice provisions.

What followed was an open discussion between Alan and AYJ members, with members posing questions around secure placements, early intervention, child criminal exploitation, policing, girls, the need to take a cross-governmental approach, and challenge expectations around more children coming into contact with the justice system.

A big thank you to Alan for joining us and to all members who engaged in the discussions!