Barnet's youth justice system is experiencing a significant decrease in first-time offenders, a trend attributed to a proactive child first
approach that incorporates early intervention and diversionary programmes. Data presented at the Safer Communities Partnership Board meeting on Friday, September 18, 2026, revealed a 16.3% reduction in first-time entrants (FTEs), outperforming both London's 12.4% reduction and the national average of 7.6%.
The borough's success is credited to a combination of strategies including the Engage programme, Out-of-Court Resolutions, and Turnaround programmes, all designed to prevent children from entering the youth justice system. Furthermore, Barnet Youth Justice Service has maintained a zero custody rate across recent reporting periods.
The re-offending rate has also seen a positive decline, falling to 25%, which is considerably below the national average of 32.1% and London's average of 29.7%.
Despite these encouraging outcomes, children within the youth justice cohort continue to present with increasingly complex needs. These include exploitation, trauma, mental health difficulties, and wider safeguarding vulnerabilities. Analysis of serious violence incidents involving young people suggests these issues are linked to exploitation and adverse childhood experiences rather than organised crime.
To address this escalating demand, Barnet Youth Justice Service is prioritising capacity building. They have recruited two additional staff members to alleviate caseload pressures and enhance the quality of assessments, interventions, planning, and reviews. The service is also strengthening partnership arrangements across North West London to collaboratively tackle knife crime and offending.
Demographic data from the LCPF programme, which supports child victims of domestic abuse and VAWG, indicates a referral cohort of 13 girls and 12 boys aged between 5 and 17. Notably, 28% of these referrals were for Afghan children, with White Polish, Asian British Indian, and Iranian children each accounting for 12%. The data also shows that 14 children were on child protection plans and 8 were on CIN plans. For serious violence incidents involving young people, the cohort was predominantly male (10 out of 12), with 66% being victims receiving specialist support. The information also highlights that Black Caribbean children are more likely to be excluded or suspended from school, and that children with SEND and on Free School Meals are overrepresented in youth justice cohorts. Police Stop and Search data, which includes ethnicity, is being reviewed, and the Youth Justice Service is focusing on disproportionality for Black/Mixed-Heritage and Asian ethnic groups.
Further details on community safety initiatives and data can be found in the Public reports pack for the Safer Communities Partnership Board meeting.