NEWPORT had the highest rate of children in custody of any local authority in Wales, an “unacceptable” social services inspection found last year.

The council’s head of social services says his team has worked hard to turn this around and is expecting a more positive outcome at the next inspection of the youth offending service, which aims to prevent children and young people under 18 from committing crimes and work with them when they are in the justice system to stop them reoffending.

Presenting his annual report to full council on Tuesday, social services director Mike Nicholson said of the inspection: “I have to say it was a terrible disappointment and shock to me.

"What had happened is over the course of years the Youth Offending Service had lost its sense of purpose.

"It drifted towards more of a social service for young people with less challenge, less focus and less attack. As a result we had a higher rate of children going into custody.

“I can tell you know that has turned around and the rate of children going into custody this year has been significantly reduced. It was a failure on our part to not have spotted that drift. We are putting it right. I have to take it on the chin – it’s my responsibility.”

In his annual report he cites a critical inspection by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, which found reoffending rates had not reduced since a 2010 inspection and the quality of work with young offenders had “deteriorated markedly”.

Newport had the highest per 1,000 figure of children in custody of any local authority in Wales from April 2013 to March 2014, the most recent figures available during the inspection which took place over a week in April and a week in June last year.

Tory councillor David Fouweather said: “It was a disastrous report. These children are some of the most vulnerable we have and the administration failed them.”

During the council meeting, Mr Fouweather said: “Newport was chosen (for the inspection) because of a sustained rise in the frequency of reoffending accompanied by high levels of first time entrance into the youth justice system. There were three key themes emerging from the inspection. The management of the board was weak, had insufficient oversight of the service and did not offer effective challenge.”

He quizzed Debbie Wilcox, cabinet member for education and young people: “Would you agree with me that this is a damaging and damning report and could she now give a detailed report to council of what action has been taken to ensure that this never happens again?”

Ms Wilcox replied: “The inspection report presented an unacceptable picture of performance at the time of the inspection. At the time of the feedback all involved fully accepted the findings and agreed they had to learn from the mistakes of the past.

“The inspection acted as a catalyst to review the service at all levels. The Youth Offending Service continues to require a high level of vigilance to sustain the changes. There’s no quick fix to overcoming these challenges but incrementally and collectively we are dealing with those.”

She said the Youth Justice Board, which oversees services in the UK, had confirmed they are “extremely encouraged” by progress since the inspection and said she expected this would be reflected at the next inspection, likely to be in September.