Government Proposes New Youth Justice Reforms: Intervention Courts, Parental Orders, Custody Reduction
The government is proposing earlier intervention and tougher measures against parents to tackle youth crime across England and Wales. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy stated that enhanced family support and addressing root causes of offending would aim to prevent young people from becoming entrenched in criminal activity.
However, the Alliance for Youth Justice, representing over 70 organisations, criticised the proposals for relying too heavily on “pilots, consultations and reviews” rather than implementing “bold, ambitious action”.
New Intervention Courts and Parental Orders
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced the piloting of new Youth Intervention Courts. These courts will integrate judges, youth justice services, and specialist support to address the underlying reasons for offending. They will also provide intensive supervision, tailored interventions—including health or educational requirements—and close monitoring of compliance.
Official figures indicate that eight in ten prolific offenders in England and Wales committed their first crime as children, with two-thirds reoffending within a year of release from custody. In response, the government plans to strengthen and expand Parenting Orders. These orders can compel parents or guardians to address their child's behaviour, including attending counselling, with potential penalties such as fines for non-compliance. The MoJ noted a dramatic decline in the use of Parenting Orders, from over 1,000 in 2009/10 to just 33 in 2022/23. This push follows the Southport Inquiry Report, which suggested parental intervention could have prevented the 2024 attack by Axel Rudakubana.
Custody Reduction and Record Reform
The government's plan also commits to reducing “unnecessary” custodial remand for children by 25% before the next election, ensuring children are not held unless public protection necessitates it. This initiative aims to reduce the youth custody population by 20%. Ministers will also explore strengthening Youth Rehabilitation Orders—community sentences that can include unpaid work, curfews, or treatment requirements, potentially utilising electronic monitoring for intensive supervision.
Further reforms include a consultation on childhood criminal records, potentially ending lifelong disclosure requirements for offences committed as a child. Campaigners argue that current disclosure rules hinder individuals' job opportunities due to past mistakes.
Additionally, the Turnaround early intervention programme will receive an extra £15.4 million annually, aiming to assist 12,000 children at risk of entering the justice system over the next three years. A new criminal exploitation offence targeting adults who draw children into crime is also slated for creation.
Lammy, also the Justice Secretary, stated, “These reforms lay the foundation to intervene far earlier, support families, and tackle the drivers of offending so fewer young people become trapped in cycles of crime, creating safer streets and fewer victims.” The Alliance for Youth Justice welcomed the government’s acknowledgement that the system is failing, but urged a commitment to legislative change and an urgent shift towards welfare-focused alternatives, rather than merely “considering” reforms.
