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Too many children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are ending up in the criminal justice system, a Senedd committee has said.

In a report published this week, the Senedd’s cross-party Equality and Social Justice Committee found people with SLCN in Wales aren’t being given enough support as they navigate through the criminal justice system.

SLCN can include a range of challenges, such as hearing impairments, dyslexia or social communication difficulties as a result of autism.  

The report shows 60% of young people involved with the youth justice system have SLCN, when it is estimated they make up just 10% of children and young people as a whole.

Labour MS Jenny Rathbone, who is the chair of the committee, described the findings as “deeply worrying” and said it was “obvious we have a serious issue to be tackled”.

Ms Rathbone said the report was “aimed squarely at giving a voice to these young people”.

In a statement, she said: “We want to see much more focus on children’s communication needs from birth in order stop such high numbers of young people with SLCN entering the criminal justice system in the first place.

“Secondly, we need to ensure that everyone working in the criminal justice system is aware of this bias so that young people get the support they need to navigate their way through the youth justice system.

“Otherwise it undermines any claim to equitable access to justice.”

Ms Rathbone called on the Welsh Government to work with speech and language therapists to “improve awareness and early identification of SLCN by frontline services, particularly schools”.

Following a one-day inquiry, the committee found there was a lack of organisations in Wales championing the needs of young people with SLCN.

The report also urges the Welsh Government to work with local authorities to introduce speech and language therapists into every youth offending team in Wales.

Caerphilly County Borough is covered by Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly Youth Offending Service.

Ms Rathbone continued: “Staff and services must have the skills, knowledge and resources to be able to respond to those presenting with these communication needs with the appropriate support.” 

The Committee recommended the Welsh Government works with stakeholders to create a plan by the end of this year, with the aim of improving the recruitment and retention of speech and language therapists.