As Black History Month begins, we have a moment to celebrate the rich culture, history, and immense contributions of Black communities across the UK. It is a time to reflect on the extraordinary achievements of Black individuals and recognise the challenges they have faced, and continue to face, in striving for equity.
For those who may not know me, I am Keith Fraser, Chair of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB). My journey into this role followed a long career in policing, where as a Black man, I worked my way through the ranks, from police constable to Superintendent. This experience allowed me to witness first-hand the contributions of Black communities to British society, particularly in the realms of law and justice.
A few things stood out for me:
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One was how rare non-White police officers were and unfortunately remain to this day.
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Two, was that despite the many amazing police officers already serving, policing was missing out on talent from Black communities.
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Lastly, Black communities welcomed me back in the 1980s. What communities wanted was fair policing, not zero policing.
Many Black police officers have achieved a lot, but where are their stories? We must increase our knowledge and celebration of the positive contribution of ALL Black individuals to policing and society in general.
I was fortunate to achieve my childhood dream of becoming a police officer and I thank my parents for that.
Recognising Black history and legacy
This month is about celebration, and it's essential to highlight the many ways Black individuals have enriched every part of British life-from the arts to politics, from business to sports, and of course, within the justice system. Their contributions have been remarkable and continue to shape our society in profound ways. However, while we celebrate, it's also crucial to reflect on the inequities that remain as we commit to building a fairer, more inclusive future.
At the YJB, we will mark Black History Month by sharing blogs, resources, and practice examples to shine a light on the ways we can address these challenges. Later this month, we will also release a report commissioned from Revolving Doors on tackling racial disparity in youth justice, highlighting good practices and case studies.
Reflecting on the present: addressing disparities in youth justice
Black and Mixed heritage children continue to face disproportionate disadvantages. For example, Black children are nearly twice as likely as White children to be in care, are more likely to experience persistent low income, while often experiencing poorer health outcomes.
Although Black and Mixed ethnicity children remain over-represented at most stages of the youth justice system, there have been promising reductions in several key areas, including arrests, youth cautions, first-time entrants, sentencing, and children in custody. Encouragingly, this marks the third consecutive year of improvements in disproportionality, though significant challenges remain, more work needs to be done to understand these improvements.
For over a decade, we have been raising awareness about the unexplained over-representation of these children in the youth justice system. While we acknowledge that many of the drivers of change are beyond our direct control, we are committed to collaborating with partners to address the factors contributing to racial disparity. Our collective challenge is to ensure that every child, regardless of background, is treated fairly and equitably.
Taking action: our Anti-Racism Strategy
This month, we will publish our Anti-Racism Statement activity as part of our commitment to becoming an anti-racist organisation. This is underscored by our Anti-Racism Strategy which brings together the activity taken across the YJB to eradicate racism in all forms, within the YJB and across the sector. The YJB's Strategic Plan 2024-27 explicitly commits to "championing inclusion and becoming an anti-racist organisation." By anti-racist, we mean actively opposing racism and promoting racial equity-not just within our workforce but, crucially, for the children in the youth justice system.
Over the past year, we've taken significant steps, including research into Pre-Sentence Reports (PSRs), which revealed differences in how Black and White children are treated. Additionally, the opening of the London Accommodation Pathfinder (LAP) is a critical step toward addressing the overrepresentation of Black children in custody. This new type of accommodation prioritises boys who are of Black or Mixed heritage and puts self-development, identity, education and relationships at its heart. This is important because almost three quarters (73%) of all children on remand do not go on to get a custodial sentence. And so, we want to avoid exposing children to that custodial environment. The evidence states the best route for children to stay clear of criminality is to not bring them into the justice system prematurely. We are also looking to promote the findings of Levelling the Playing Field - an evidence based three-year programme using the power of sport and physical activity to tackle overrepresentation.
Making voices heard
Promoting diversity and inclusivity within the youth justice workforce is vital. Not only do we benefit from a greater variety of individual experiences, but we ensure that the workforce reflects the community it serves, fostering trust and understanding. That's why we have pioneered initiatives like Elevate, which was a dynamic 6-month mentoring programme designed to help middle managers from ethnic minority backgrounds progress into leadership roles. With 2 successful cohorts in 2021 and 2023, Elevate helped 21 participants move closer to strategic management positions. We advocate for future programmes like Elevate and we continually look at ways we can replicate this success for YJB staff.
But it's not just about our youth justice leadership; it's also about listening to and empowering young voices. Our Youth Advisory Network continues to shape our work, and over recent months, I've had the privilege of engaging with young leaders who have, against the odds, stayed out of the criminal justice system. Their stories are powerful reminders of the potential we must nurture in every child.
At a local level, initiatives like the Kitchen Table Talks-run by the award-winning West Midlands-based charity First Class Foundation-are making a real difference. Its community-led parental peer support networks, which we proudly supported, have been shown to increase participants' wellbeing and confidence, helping protect children from falling into dangerous activities. When communities are empowered, change happens from the ground up.
Earlier this year, I attended the launch of the 'Protecting Young Black Lives, Celebrating Black Professionals' report, published in partnership with Cumberland Lodge, Power the fight and Durham University's contextual safeguarding programme. Insights included recognising racism as a safeguarding issue as well as the importance of creating inclusive services where we value and nurture the contributions of Black children and professionals. We must all take collective action to address the recommendations in the report.
A call to reflect, learn, and act
Black History Month offers an opportunity for all of us to reflect on our personal and institutional biases. It's a chance to learn, to engage, and to take actionable steps to support Black communities-not just for this month, but year-round. I encourage everyone to actively participate in discussions, events, and learning opportunities that foster inclusion and promote equity.
To every youth justice professional, I want to extend my sincere thanks. Your tireless efforts, especially through challenging times, have kept our children and communities safe. Your work does not go unnoticed.
As we celebrate Black History Month, let's commit to making this month, and every month, a time for learning, listening, and acting. Together, we can create a more just and equitable system for all children.
Thank you.
