Early intervention and tougher action against parents to tackle youth crime

Earlier intervention and tougher action against parents are among measures being announced by the government to tackle crime by young people in England and Wales.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said support for families and addressing the drivers of offending would mean "fewer young people become trapped in cycles of crime".

However, the Alliance for Youth Justice, which represents more than 70 organisations, said the plans relied "too heavily on pilots, consultations and reviews", rather than "bold, ambitious action".

The proposals are set out in a Youth Justice White Paper, which is being published by the government on Monday.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said new Youth Intervention Courts would be piloted, bringing together judges, youth justice services and specialist support to help tackle the root causes of offending.

It said the courts would also provide intensive supervision and tailored interventions, including health or educational requirements, alongside close monitoring of compliance.

The government pointed to figures showing eight in 10 prolific offenders in England and Wales committed their first crime as a child, while two-thirds of those released from custody reoffend within a year.

Meanwhile, the government plans to strengthen and expand Parenting Orders, which can compel parents or guardians to address their child's behaviour, including attending counselling or guidance sessions, or face penalties such as fines.

Courts are currently required to consider issuing a Parenting Order where a child under 16 has been convicted of an offence.

They can also consider an order for 16 and 17-year-olds if they believe this would help prevent further offences.

However, the MoJ said the use of Parenting Orders had declined dramatically, from more than 1,000 in 2009/10 to just 33 in 2022/23.

The move comes after the Southport Inquiry Report found that if Axel Rudakubana's parents had intervened in the years leading up to the 2024 attack, it could have been prevented.

There is also a focus on reducing the use of custodial sentences in favour of community sentences.

The plan commits to ending "unnecessary" custodial remand for children, where someone is held in prison while they await trial of sentencing.

The government is promising to reduce the practice by 25% before the next election to ensure children are not held unless public protection requires it.

It said these measures could reduce the youth population in custody by 20%.

Ministers will also explore strengthening Youth Rehabilitation Orders - community sentences given to children, which can include unpaid work, curfews, or a requirement to undertake treatment.