Member

Existing Welsh approaches to prevention, community safety and rehabilitation could be applied more consistently if responsibility for youth justice were fully devolved. At present, justice remains a reserved matter. I acknowledge and understand that our UK Labour Government, facing pressures such as prison overcrowding, asylum problems and the legacy of inherited Conservative neglect and chaos, have had limited capacity to consider substantial structural reforms across justice responsibilities. However, youth justice stands out as an area where immediate progress is both feasible and symbolically important, demonstrating renewed intergovernmental respect and co-operation.