Recommendation SP47: Audit of LCC Child and Youth Justice Service
From The Southport Inquiry Report: Phase 1, published 13 April 2026.
Recommendation
Lancashire County Council, in consultation with the Youth Justice Board, should arrange for a comprehensive and independent audit to be undertaken of the Lancashire County Council Child and Youth Justice Service to report by 13 October 2026. This should include assurance that the service is holding young offenders to sufficient standards and boundaries in referral orders, and that interventions are focussed and appropriate.
In brief (written by this site)
Lancashire County Council stated in July 2026 that its child and youth justice service was progressing implementation of the inquiry's recommendations (Lancashire County Council, Jul 2026). It had reported in May 2026 that the screening and selection of independent auditors was underway to commission the audit in consultation with the Youth Justice Board (Lancashire County Council, May 2026). The record holds no update since HM Government's response of July 2026 (Home Office response, Jul 2026).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
The Ministry of Justice agrees with the Chair that is important that youth justice services can hold young offenders to sufficient standards and boundaries in referral orders, and that interventions are focussed and appropriate. The Ministry of Justice therefore supports the Chair's recommendation 47, calling for an independent audit of the Lancashire County Council Child and Youth Justice Service, and recommendation 66 for the Youth Justice Board to issue written guidance for parents of children who have been found with a knife or offensive weapon.
Blanket government agreement does not establish acceptance or delivery by each addressee. Some response passages cover groups of recommendations.
Scope of the government response
The government's response to Phase 1 (CP 1623, 2 July 2026) agreed with all 67 recommendations in one sentence, and names only 39 of them individually. Where a recommendation is not named, the response shown is the passage the response gives for the group it belongs to (the recommendations for organisations outside central government, or the recommendations to policing bodies), which is not a response to that recommendation alone; the response does not list the members of any group. The 10 recommendations for Phase 2 of the Inquiry to consider show no response: the response introduces them (paragraph 20) but answers none of them. The government accepts the recommendations that are for central government to deliver. Where a recommendation is for an organisation outside central government, the government's agreement is not that organisation's acceptance.
Delivery
Lancashire County Council says in progress (2 July 2026)
Lancashire CYJS acknowledges its involvement in the Southport Public Inquiry, which examined the service’s previous contact with the child as part of its wider review of interactions with public bodies. The service has reviewed the final report and is progressing implementation of the relevant recommendations, ensuring that learning informs ongoing service development.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Lancashire County Council (19 May 2026)
1.1 In consultation with the Youth Justice Board, the council will commission a comprehensive and independent audit of the CYJS. The terms of reference and audit plan will be agreed with the Youth Justice Board to ensure appropriate focus on Referral Order practice, the setting of clear standards and boundaries for children, and the effectiveness and appropriateness of interventions. 1.2 Screening and selection of suitably qualified independent auditors is underway. 1.3 The audit will be informed by ongoing service development activity, including joint work with partners to develop a Serious Violence Toolkit.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Ministry of Justice
Response - Lancashire County Council
Delivery statement