New Youth Justice Plan aims to keep Stoke-on-Trent’s young people away from crime
The initiative places a strong emphasis on early intervention and prevention
A new Youth Justice Plan has been unveiled in Stoke-on-Trent, designed to prevent children and young people from entering the criminal justice system and to reduce re-offending across the city.
The initiative, led by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in partnership with prosecutors, police, and other key agencies, places a strong emphasis on early intervention and prevention — approaches that evidence shows can significantly reduce the likelihood of young people falling into a life of crime.
Under the new plan, the council and its partners will work to reduce the number of first-time entrants into the criminal justice system and to provide tailored support to those at risk.
One major element of the plan is a greater focus on restorative justice, giving young offenders the opportunity to come face-to-face with their victims to better understand the impact of their actions. The voices of children, families, and victims will play a central role in shaping future support services for both offenders and those affected by crime.
The strategy also introduces more flexible ways of dealing with certain offences, such as handling some driving-related incidents ‘out of hours,’ to ensure timely resolutions. Special attention will be paid to protecting children in care from being drawn into criminal influences.
Officials say that the city’s collaborative approach is already yielding positive results. Re-offending rates among young people in Stoke-on-Trent currently stand at 24.3 per cent, well below the average of 36.5 per cent for similar areas across the country.
Council leaders hope the new Youth Justice Plan will build on this success by giving young people the right support at the right time — and keeping them on a positive path for the future.
Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for Children’s Services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "This new model will assist the service to intervene and support young people before they get entrenched in criminal behaviours.
"We want all young people in our city to thrive and make positive contributions to their communities."
“This all forms part of our plan to improve the well-being of our residents, making a cleaner, greener and safer city for all who live, work and visit here.”