National recognition for East Riding Youth Justice Service after top inspection rating
East Riding’s Youth Justice Service has received national recognition after a visit from the Interim Chair of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.
Phil Bowen visited the service to hear more about its work supporting young people and victims of crime.
During the visit, Mr Bowen spent time with the Youth Justice team, learning how the service helps divert young people away from crime and supports them to make positive choices.
The team shared examples of its work with children and young people, including tailored interventions, creative activities and support designed around individual needs.
Mr Bowen also heard how the service listens to the voices and views of young people in order to help achieve positive outcomes.
As part of the visit, he saw the Our Place mobile youth service, which won the Children’s Services Award at the LGC Awards last year.
The outreach service provides a safe and inclusive space for young people, offering creative activities and support around issues including mental health, online safety, child exploitation and LGBTQI inclusion.
Mr Bowen also learned more about East Riding’s restorative justice work with victims of crime, which provides individualised and sensitive support.
East Riding’s Youth Justice Service became the first in the country to achieve full marks in an official inspection in 2019, scoring 36 out of 36 and receiving an Outstanding rating.
HM Inspectorate of Probation inspected the service again at the beginning of 2026, when it was once more awarded full marks — 12 out of 12 — and rated Outstanding.
Phil Bowen, Chair of the Youth Justice Board, said: “I was delighted to spend the day meeting the dedicated professionals at East Riding Youth Justice Service, as well as the children that they work with.
“I was particularly impressed with its victim and restorative approach, which is tailored to the individual needs of both the child and the victim.
“It promoted safety in a way that was both innovative and personalised and was achieving positive outcomes for the victim, the child, and the wider community.”
Councillor Victoria Aitken, Cabinet Member for children, families and education, said the service plays an important role in helping children move away from crime and build positive futures.
She said: “East Riding’s Youth Justice Service brings together policing, probation, health, education and social care and does exceptional work supporting children to move away from crime and build positive futures.
“The service’s restorative justice work and support for victims is a real strength and plays an important role in helping victims feel heard and supported, whilst also strengthening community confidence.
“The highly skilled and committed team go above and beyond every day to support children, families and communities.
“I’m delighted that the best practice is being showcased on a national level, and other areas will be able to benefit from hearing about how we deliver youth justice work.”
East Riding Youth Justice Service works with young people aged 10 to 18 who have committed an offence and have come to the attention of the police.
It is a multi-agency partnership involving East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Humberside Police, the National Probation Service, speech and language therapy services, substance misuse services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, and community and voluntary organisations.
More information about the service is available at eryc.link/youthjusticeservice.