Parents could face harsher repercussions for children’s crimes in justice shake-up

Parents and guardians could be more likely to face harsh repercussions if their children break the law, under a shake-up of the youth justice system being spearheaded by David Lammy.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary is hoping to prevent children from starting a life of crime with a series of reforms in the new Youth Justice White Paper published on Monday.

As part of the plans, parents and carers could face greater responsibility for their children who commit crimes and cause anti-social behaviour.

Ministers plan to strengthen parenting orders, which currently mean parents can be compelled to address their children’s behaviour through counselling and guidance, or can lead to fines.

The Ministry of Justice said the use of such orders has declined dramatically over the last two decades, from more than a thousand in 2009/10, to 33 in 2022/23.

According to the Telegraph newspaper, the desire to strengthen parental orders comes in the wake of the inquiry into the Southport stabbings, and could result in jail time for parents whose children break the law.

Alongside the greater role for parents, Mr Lammy also plans to pilot new youth intervention courts, which will bring together judges and support services to tackle issues which are drawing young people into crime.

The courts will also supervise young offenders, and give them tailored health and education interventions to help them avoid a life of crime.

Mr Lammy said: “Too many young people are being drawn into crime, with devastating consequences for victims, communities and their own futures.

“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.”

Elsewhere in the plans championed by Mr Lammy are proposals to invest £15.4 million per year in a programme which will help 12,000 children at risk of entering the youth justice system over the next three years.

The White Paper could also lead to the end of people having to disclose criminal convictions from when they were children throughout their lives.

Offences which took place in childhood have hampered the life chances of some people even into their 60s.

Mr Lammy plans to launch a consultation on childhood criminal records which could end the lifelong disclosure requirement.

Justice minister Jake Richards said: “Put simply, the youth justice system is not working – not for children, victims and communities blighted by crime.

“These reforms will modernise the system, keep pace with emerging risks and ensure young offenders get the support they need turn their lives around, while improving public safety.”

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said: “As Children’s Commissioner, I have consistently been clear about the need to reform the youth justice system. We must build an approach that keeps children safe, diverts them from crime wherever possible, and prioritises meaningful behaviour change.

“Education is central to this. It is the most powerful tool we have to prevent offending in the first place, and it remains vital for those in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) who have already fallen through the cracks.

“I am therefore pleased to welcome the Youth Justice White Paper published today, and that I have been asked to undertake a review of the education children in YOIs receive, with the aim of improving outcomes and giving these children a better chance for the future.”

The Conservatives meanwhile cast doubt on the Government’s ability to reform youth justice.

Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, said: “Whatever Labour say today they have already shown they don’t have it in their DNA to be tough on crime.

“They’ve let thousands of prisoners early and abolished short term sentences – so most perpetrators of knife crime who have been sent to prison in the past few years will escape a custodial sentence in future.

“This goes to show the problem with this government is not Starmer – it’s Labour. This country needs a strong Conservative government that will back our police, lock up criminals and crack down on crime.”

Alliance for Youth Justice chief executive Jess Mullen said that while parental responsibility in ensuring children do not break the law “is absolutely important”, “there is also a wider question of societal responsibility” around how to help parents support their children.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think the children who are in contact with the youth justice system are extremely vulnerable and experience a wide range of issues, from, you know, poor access to children and adolescent mental health services, the challenges in the special educational needs services, the long-standing effects of austerity, the cost-of-living crisis, and all of these things also impact their families.

“So, those parents need support to be able to provide support to their children.

“So, parental responsibility is absolutely important, but there is also a wider question of societal responsibility and how we all and services wrap around that child and that family.”

Ms Mullen added: “The youth justice system definitely requires reform, and the Lord Chancellor is absolutely right to talk about the need for once-in-a-generation reforms to it.

“And, you know, in the case of what needs to change at the early end of the system, there’s something about that multi-agency working, and how do we make sure children and their families aren’t falling through the cracks, and they’re getting the support we need so that we stop children actually entering the system in the first place, and the system acts as a sort of repellent shield to push children away.”