Press release

Lowest ever number of young people in custody

The YJB responds to the publication by the Ministry of Justice of monthly statistics on the numbers of children and young people within the secure estate.

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Youth Justice Board for England and Wales

Colin Allars YJB Chief Executive said:

The number of young people in custody has fallen to its lowest ever level – just 861 were in custody in July 2016, 73% lower than October 2002 when there were 3,200. Those working across the whole youth justice sector have delivered a huge reduction in the numbers of children in the system – falling from 147,800 at its peak in 2006/7 to just 37,900 in 2014/15.

This has significantly reduced the impact of young people’s offending on society, their potential victims, and on the young people themselves, as well as helping to deliver savings to the economy.

Notes to editors

You can view the custody statistics on GOV.UK

Youth Justice Board media enquiries

Youth Justice Board for England and Wales
Clive House
70 Petty France
London
SW1H 9EX

Email comms@yjb.gov.uk

For out-of-hours press queries 020 3334 3536

Updates to this page

Published 9 September 2016