Jonny Humphries
BBC News

Image source, PA Media

Sir Adrian Fulford, chairman of the inquiry, suggests to Ms Roberts-Bibby that there is a "gap" in how to deal with children who may have the intention of "committing a very serious offence" in the future.

She agrees there is sometimes "resistance" by organisations to take responsibility even when different agencies attend meetings together.

Sir Adrian points out: "AR had the one conviction... he had made multiple statements and had behaved in a way that indicated he wanted to at least cause really serious bodily harm to another.

"Given that he had been sentenced for a previous offence but his intentions did not constitute another offence... for someone like that do you agree there should be an order that doesn't take away his liberty but which imposes the least necessary restrictions to try to ensure that, for instance, he's not able to get into a minicab that he has ordered to go to a school carrying a knife so he can attack others?"

Ms Roberts-Bibby agrees but says such an order should only follow after "all of the other things have been done first", such as gathering the necessary information and "effective triangulation of risk".

Jonny Humphries
BBC News

William Chapman, counsel to the families of the murdered girls, asks Youth Justice Board chief executive Stephanie Roberts-Bibby about re-offending rates.

She says overall reoffending rates stand at about 32%.

An advocate for the children who survived the attack, David Temkin, KC, then highlights that in the final three months of AR's referral order, contacts were reduced to once a month based upon his parents "not raising concerns".

"I would have expected to see an increase in contact," replies Ms Roberts-Bibby.

She agrees AR received nothing that looked like the "concentrated intervention" that is necessary for a child with complex needs.

Mr Temkin asks her if anyone appeared to have been "relentless" in their approach to the order.

"I didn't consider anyone to be relentless in their engagement," she says.

Jonny Humphries
BBC News

John Goss, counsel to the inquiry, refers to "shocking statistics" contained within research by the UK's Youth Endowment Fund, external.

He says 70% of children have seen real-world violence on social media.

Furthermore, he says:

• 35% of 13 to 17-year-olds have seen children carrying, promoting or using weapons online
• 39% say seeing violence and weapons on social media makes them "more likely to carry a weapon themselves".

Youth Justice Board chief executive Stephanie Roberts-Bibby agrees the figures are "shocking".

"We know that 'hurt people' hurt people," she adds.

"So if you're watching other people be hurt what does that do to how you think about the concept of violence and harming others?"

Ms Roberts-Bibby says she would like to examine evidence on whether monitoring young people's online activity should be part of future referral orders within the youth justice system.

"I don't see why not," she adds.

Jonny Humphries
BBC News

Stephanie Roberts-Bibby tells the inquiry she would support additional restrictions on the purchase of knives.

Asked specifically about a total ban on machetes, the Youth Justice Board's chief executive explains: "I find it very hard to see why anyone needs to have a machete."

Mr Goss suggests there is a "gap" in current legislation which fails to cover possession of knives or other offensive weapons in a private setting with intent of using or threatening to use them for unlawful violence.

He posits that this could be addressed under a proposed new offence within the Crime and Policing Bill that is currently making its way through Parliament.

Ms Roberts-Bibby confirms the Youth Justice Board would welcome such a move.

Jonny Humphries
BBC News

The inquiry is told that Southport attacker AR's failure to comply with the conditions of his youth referral order was often attributed to his autism by Youth Offending Service (YOS) staff.

Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, chief executive of the Youth Justice Board, is asked if that should have happened.

"No, I think there is something about professional judgement, and an element of leniency on [the] first, maybe second [breach]. After that, I think you are into the realms of this is now non-compliance," she said.

Counsel to the inquiry John Goss asks about an occasion in January 2021 when YOS staff were told about an occasion when AR had kicked his father in the groin area, who retaliated by striking his son.

This happened close to the end of his referral order.

"Would you have expected that to have led to a reassessment of risk?", Mr Goss asked.

Ms Roberts-Bibby replied: "Definitely, yes. Any change in circumstances should lead to a reassessment of risk."

Jonny Humphries
BBC News

Stephanie Roberts-Bibby said there was no option for AR to be detained for offences he admitted in February 2020, namely assault causing Actual Bodily Harm (ABH), possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a knife.

The inquiry has previously heard that weeks after being expelled from Range High School in Formby, Merseyside, AR attacked a pupil with a hockey stick in December 2019.

He was subsequently handed a Youth Referral Order.

Ms Roberts-Bibby said she was “quite frustrated” with how that order was carried out by the Youth Offending Service, as well as the failure of professionals to speak to AR on several occasions.

“If there were significant concerns about risk, be ambitious and have an appetite to get what you need to get done," she said. “I would expect to see more."

Jonny Humphries
BBC News

Stephanie Roberts-Bibby is asked about concerns she expressed in her statement to the inquiry about how different agencies work together to manage the risks posed to and by youth offenders.

She said: "There is a difficulty over who owns the risk of harm or re-offending, particularly at a local level."

Counsel to the inquiry John Goss asks about information sharing.

"From my operational background people tend to make a bigger issue of this than is necessary...

"I see no reason that professionals don't have that capability, and they should have the confidence to do that."

She also tells the inquiry that professionals should have the "humility" to listen to concerns from others from a different discipline and, if necessary, review levels of risk.

Mairead Smyth
Reporting from the inquiry

I'm at Liverpool Town Hall, listening to this morning's first witness giving evidence at the Southport Inquiry.

Fighting back tears, the Youth Justice Board's chief executive Stephanie Roberts-Bibby offered her "heartfelt condolences" to the families of the three girls who died in the 29 July 2024 attack in Southport, as well as others who were harmed by the attacker's actions.

Jonny Humphries
BBC News

Under questioning from John Goss, counsel to the public inquiry, Youth Justice Board chief executive Stephanie Roberts-Bibby says the aims of the youth justice system in England and Wales are "simply to prevent a child causing harm and causing victims" and works on the principle of treating them as "children first and offenders second".

Mr Goss asked if there was a “tension” between that child-centred approach and “protecting the public from harm”?

“I think there’s a perceived tension, but I don’t think in reality there is,” she explained.

“Our evidence shows that if we meet a child’s needs, address those needs robustly, then we have a much greater chance of protecting the public and reducing harm to others.”

Jonny Humphries
BBC News

Image source, Southport Inquiry

The first witness of the day has started to give her evidence.

Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, chief executive of the Youth Justice Board (YJB), started by saying: "I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie and the others that were harmed.”

She explained that her organisation, which operates at arm's length from the Ministry of Justice, is tasked with monitoring the youth justice system in England and Wales. It advises government ministers and conducts research.

Ian Shoesmith
BBC News

A key part of the public inquiry's remit is to examine the history of the Southport attacker, his contact with the relevant agencies and whether there were any missed opportunities to prevent what happened on 29 July 2024.

Three girls - Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe - were killed in the knife attack on a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the Merseyside town.

Ten other people, including eight children, were injured in the attack.

Ian Shoesmith
BBC News

Before hearing from X's senior executive, however, the chief executive of the Youth Justice Board, Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, will be giving her evidence to the inquiry.

The Youth Justice Board is responsible for overseeing the youth justice system in England and Wales.

It says it aims for a youth justice system "that sees children as children, treats them fairly and helps them to build on their strengths so they can make a constructive contribution to society.

"This will prevent offending and create safer communities with fewer victims."

Jonny Humphries
BBC News

Deanna Romina Khananisho, head of global government affairs at the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), is set to face some difficult questions this morning.

Six minutes before he left his house to carry out his attack, Axel Rudakubana searched on the platform for a video of the Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel stabbings in Sydney, Australia - which were also carried out by a teenage boy.

The inquiry has called it "sobering and concerning" that the killer was able to search for and possibly view violent material on X so close to the time of the Southport attack.

The public inquiry wants to explore X's response and the implications for the Online Safety Act.

In line with the public inquiry, we will refer to the perpetrator by his initials - AR.

Ian Shoesmith
BBC News

Good morning and thank you for joining us as the Southport public inquiry is about to resume at Liverpool Town Hall.

We will bring you live coverage throughout the day.