Ministers bring together leaders to rewire youth crime prevention

Ministers Jake Richards, Josh MacAlister and Sarah Jones hosted a roundtable in Manchester with local leaders, youth justice experts, policing officials and education representatives to develop plans for earlier identification of children at risk of crime. The discussion focused on how local and regional leaders can be given greater autonomy to prevent offending and protect victims by breaking down barriers between services. The event follows the Government’s broader ambition to shift power from Whitehall to local authorities as part of its ‘rewiring the state’ programme.

The Ministers also visited SHiFT in Manchester, a partnership between a national charity, the council and the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit, to observe intensive, relationship-based support for young people at the highest risk of entering custody or becoming entrenched in crime. The visit highlighted how multi-agency collaboration can steer vulnerable young people away from offending before they become trapped in cycles of crime.

Kate Green has been appointed as Expert Adviser on Youth Justice Devolution in England for an initial 18-month period, providing independent advice to Ministers on how strategic authorities can improve youth justice and crime prevention. Her role includes advising on joining up services, pooling resources, reducing duplication and strengthening accountability across youth justice systems.

The Government also announced the expansion of Young Futures Hubs, with 42 new locations this week, offering mentoring, wellbeing support and trusted adults to young people in communities affected by violence. This builds on existing measures such as Violence Reduction Units and Young Futures Panels, which proactively identify and support children at risk, with 53 pilot panels operational by October 2025 and a further 12 added in 2026/27.