Plaudits on protection from young offenders

An inspection of youth offending work in the county showed the team achieving top scores in all areas, including safeguarding the public.

The report finds that in its safeguarding work – the action to protect young people referred to the service – North Yorkshire scores 80 per cent, compared with a national average of 67 per cent.

Its "risk of harm to others" work (action to protect the public) scores 75 per cent, compared with a national average of 62 per cent. And its "likelihood of reoffending" work scores 77 per cent, compared with the national average of 69 per cent.

Liz Calderbank, Assistant Chief Inspector, said: "Overall, we consider this a very creditable set of findings."

Case studies included a probation worker who spotted his young client looked under the weather all the time.

He spoke to the boy who owned up to drinking too much.

The case worker was able to get the youth medical help for his problems, reducing the time off he was taking from college and enabling him to complete training to get him a job.

"This is an excellent result for North Yorkshire, and demonstrates the professionalism, commitment, and dedication of a service which works in a determined way to help youngsters who fall foul of the law, and to protect members of the public," said County Councillor Caroline Patmore, the Executive Member for Youth Justice.

The report is available at www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-probation/

The inspection in April 2009 was part of policy to check Youth Offending work in all 157 areas of England & Wales over the course of a three-year cycle.