Issue - meetings

This report provides an overview of the purpose and rationale for creating the Brent Youth Justice Plan 2025-28. It additionally describes how youth justice provision in Brent contributes to strategic and Borough Plan priorities, and outlines the partnership aims and commitments that will shape the Brent Youth Justice Service (YJS) partnership in the next three years.

Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the Brent Youth Justice Plan 2025-28 for formal sign off and adoption by Full Council on 10 November 2025.

Eligible for call-in: No (report referred to Council for final approval)

Councillor Grahl (as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools) introduced a report from the Corporate Director, Children, Young People & Community Development providing an overview of the Brent Youth Justice Plan 2025-28 for consideration and approval, prior to its formal submission to Full Council for adoption.

In presenting the report, Councillor Grahl advised the report provided an important opportunity to recognise the valuable nature of the service and support being provided for those children and young people who were at risk of, or had entered, the youth justice system in being able to turn their lives around.  In highlighting the commitment and achievements of the Youth Justice Service and the wider partnership work being undertaken, including with schools and communities, members noted the overall progress being made in terms of the reduction in youth violence and reoffending with the 44% reduction in serious youth violence since 2016-17 welcomed as representing young lives steered away from harm, and communities that felt safer as a result.

Recognising that this success was founded on a commitment and successful approach towards partnership working, the opportunity was taken to pay credit to all organisations involved in supporting provision of the service, including the Youth Offending Service, police, parents, mentors and voluntary groups, with the process also reflecting a deliberate shift towards prevention and fairness based on treating young people as children first and offenders second.  As a result, members were advised of the way in which the plan presented in the report sought to build on that foundation by seeking to embed prevention hubs, expand mentoring and deepen anti-racist practices to ensure that every child and young person (not matter what their background) was able to benefit from the support available.  The opportunity was also taken by Councillor Grahl, supported by Nigel Chapman (as Corporate Director Children, Young People and Community Development) to pay tribute to all staff working in the Youth Justice service as well as wider children social care teams for the wraparound support being provided for young people and also to recognise and commend the multi-agency basis of the service being delivered.

In welcoming the report and commending the positive outcomes being achieved, members also recognised the positive feedback provided through young people and their parents and carers in relation to the service and support being provided (with it noted that 100% of young people responding to the young people, parent and carer survey had felt listened to by their case worker) along with the ongoing partnership work being undertaken.  As specific highlights, reference was made to the Child First Approach identified within the Plan (including the welcome focus on neurodivergent children and young people) as well as the focus around Restorative Justice.

In supporting the approach outlined towards early intervention and prevention and in seeking to address the causes of criminal behaviour, ensuring young people were offered the support required, and recognising the balance to be managed between care and justice, members also paid tribute to the personal feedback provided by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8