Recommendation 38

We recommend that the UK and Welsh Governments build on the existing success of the youth justice system in Wales, working in lockstep to support children, provide funding certainty to youth justice services, and ensure that the welfare of children underpins decision-making in this area. The committee is of the view that the UK Government should consider the benefits that might accrue from the devolution of youth justice with a focus on delivering better outcomes through a more localised and granular focus on provision to the benefit of young people in Wales. As part of this work, both governments should review the case for embedding speech and language therapists within all Youth Offending Teams in Wales, as well as for utilising smaller modular units across Wales that would allow children in the secure estate to maintain their family connections. The findings of this review should be shared with this committee. (Recommendation, Paragraph 144) Just Talk: Welsh Language Rights