Dame Nia Griffith, Member of Parliament for Llanelli, has welcomed a major overhaul of the youth justice system designed to intervene earlier and cut reoffending.
These reforms are part of the UK Labour Government’s mission to cut crime, halve knife crime over a decade, and deliver safer streets.
The new Youth Justice White Paper sets out a comprehensive package of reforms to stop more young people falling into crime and break the cycle of offending.
The reforms come as figures show eight in ten prolific offenders first committed a crime as a child, highlighting the urgent need for earlier and more effective intervention.
Under the plans, more children at risk of offending will receive targeted support earlier through expanded prevention programmes, helping steer them away from crime before it escalates.
New Youth Intervention Courts will be piloted to tackle repeat offending, bringing together judges, youth justice services and specialist support to address the root causes of crime and keep young people on track.
An extra £15.4 million per year investment in the UK Government’s flagship Turnaround programme to help 12,000 children at risk of entering the youth justice system, over the next three years.
Dame Nia Griffith MP said:
“Too many young people here in Llanelli and elsewhere are being drawn into crime, with devastating consequences for victims, communities and their own futures.”
“Many of those children have already experienced violence, neglect or exploitation. Some move from one care placement to another, never staying long enough anywhere to feel secure or loved. Others are groomed online by gangs or drawn into extremism.”
“That’s why this overhaul and modernisation of the system is so important so that it intervenes earlier, responds faster, breaks cycles and focuses relentlessly on cutting crime as well as ensuring more young people get the support they need to turn their lives around.”