HAMPSHIRE’S Youth Offending Service has been rated ‘good’ by inspectors.

In the report, the Chief Inspector of Probation, Dame Glenys Stacey, noted that the service, run by Hampshire County Council, “provided an excellent range of interventions to reduce the likelihood of offending”.

She also highlighted that “staff were skilled, motivated and worked creatively to engage young people. They were particularly adept at delivering interventions to address desistance and showed tenacity in advocating for young people.”

Two aspects were also judged to be “Outstanding”. These were: Partnerships and Services – Dame Stacey said: “Partnerships were particularly strong, and had led to the development of additional resources and staffing to meet the needs of the children and young people supervised by the YOS”; and Assessment of Court Disposals – she added: “Assessments were thorough and staff knew their young people well

Cllr Keith Mans, children’s services head, said: “As one of two local authorities to be judged as good, with some features found to be outstanding, we are very pleased with the outcome of HMI Probation’s review. This is particularly gratifying since the Inspectors were working to a new and very challenging framework.”