Youth justice
Councils are currently discussing youth justice plans, focusing on re-offending rates and scrutinising stop and search data for young people.
Croydon councillors raised concerns in October 2026 about the lack of detailed stop and search data, broken down by ethnicity, age, and outcome, in the borough's 2026-27 Youth Justice Plan. This follows the Croydon Council Cabinet's approval of the plan in September 2026, which aims to reduce re-offending rates that are currently lower than London and national averages.
Hounslow Council approved its revised 2024-2027 Youth Justice Plan in September 2026, emphasising a preventative approach and reporting no custodial sentences for young people in 2025-26. Havering Council also approved its 2026-27 plan in July 2026, focusing on evaluating services based on their impact on children, young people, families, and the wider community.
Barnet's 2025-2027 Youth Justice Plan shows a reduced reoffending rate of 28.6% and a sustained zero custody rate, as reported in July 2026. Croydon's 2026/27 Youth Justice Plan is scheduled for recommendation to Full Council on 9th December 2026. Youth justice involves the system and processes for dealing with young people who come into contact with the criminal justice system.
Key facts
- Croydon councillors raised concerns in October 2026 about the absence of detailed stop and search data for children in the 2026-27 Youth Justice Plan. Source
- Croydon's 2026-27 Youth Justice Plan acknowledges a 36% increase in stop and searches of children, from approximately 930 to 1,262 incidents. Source
- Croydon Council's Cabinet approved the 2026/27 Youth Justice Plan in September 2026. Source
- Croydon's proven re-offending rate for children is 29.1%, lower than the London average of 30.4% and the national average of 32.1%. Source
- Hounslow Council approved its revised 2024-2027 Youth Justice Plan in September 2026, reporting no custodial sentences for young people in 2025-26. Source 1 Source 2
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.