Parents could face prison for children's crimes under justice reforms

Parents could be more likely to face harsh repercussions if their children break the law as part of a youth justice system shake-up.

Justice Secretary David Lammy, who is spearheading the reform, hopes to prevent children from starting a life of crime through a series of changes in the new Youth Justice White Paper published on Monday.

Ministers plan to strengthen parenting orders, which currently allow parents and guardians to be compelled to address their children's behaviour through counselling and guidance, or to face fines.

The Ministry of Justice said the use of such orders has declined dramatically over the last two decades, from more than a thousand in 2009/10, to just 33 in 2022/23.

The desire to strengthen parenting orders comes in the wake of the inquiry into the Southport stabbings, and could result in jail time for parents whose children break the law, according to The Telegraph.

As part of the justice shake-up, Mr Lammy also plans to pilot new youth intervention courts, which will bring judges and support services together to tackle issues that are drawing young people into crime.

The courts will also supervise young offenders and give them tailored health and education interventions to help them avoid a life of crime.

"Too many young people are being drawn into crime, with devastating consequences for victims, communities and their own futures," Mr Lammy said.

"These reforms lay the foundation to intervene far earlier, support families, and tackle the drivers of offending so fewer young people become trapped in cycles of crime, creating safer streets and fewer victims."

Mr Lammy further plans to launch a consultation on childhood criminal records, which could lead to the end of people having to disclose criminal convictions from when they were children throughout their lives.

The Youth Justice White Paper also includes proposals to invest £15.4m per year in a programme which will help 12,00 children at risk of entering the youth justice system over the next three years.

Justice minister Jake Richards said: "Put simply, the youth justice system is not working - not for children, victims and communities blighted by crime.

"These reforms will modernise the system, keep pace with emerging risks and ensure young offenders get the support they need to turn their lives around, while improving public safety."

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Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza added that education was "central" to reforming the justice system.

"It is the most powerful tool we have to prevent offending in the first place, and it remains vital for those in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) who have already fallen through the cracks," she said.

Dame Rachel said she has been asked to undertake a review of the education children in YOIs receive, to improve outcomes and "give these children a better chance for the future".

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