Agenda item

To receive a report from the Corporate Director of Children, Young People & Community Development providing an overview of the purpose and rationale for creating the Brent Youth Justice Plan 2025-28 and outlining how youth justice provision in Brent contributes to strategic and Borough Plan priorities, alongside the partnership aims and commitments that will shape the Brent Youth Justice Service (YJS) partnership over the next three years.

Members are asked to note that the Plan was approved and referred to Council for formal adoption by Cabinet on 13 October 2025.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Grahl, as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, to introduce a report from the Corporate Director of Children Young People and Community Development providing an overview of the Brent Youth Justice Plan 2025-28 for consideration and 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 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 with the opportunity also taken to recognise the positive feedback provided through young people and their parents and carers in relation to the value of the service and positive outcomes being delivered.

The Mayor then opened the debate inviting other members to speak on the report, with the following contributions made.

Speaking first, Councillor Kennelly took the opportunity to highlight his personal experience of those individuals being supported through the Youth Justice Service. Whilst commending the work being undertaken, the need was also highlighted to maintain a continued focus on prevention and in supporting young people either at risk of, or who had entered, the youth justice system in being able to turn their lives around including a focus on substance misuse and treatment.

In supporting the proposals outlined as a professional who had worked in the criminal and restorative justice system, Councillor Dixon also took the opportunity to commend the positive outcomes being achieved within such a challenging context in seeking to provide early intervention and divert young people from entering the criminal justice system and need for continued investment in the engagement and intervention process.  As such she hoped all members would join her in supporting the recommendations within the report.

As no other members indicated they wished to speak the Mayor thanked members for their contribution and invited Councillor Grahl to exercise her right of reply.  In closing the debate, Councillor Grahl took the opportunity to thank members for their support and the Mayor then moved on to put the recommendations in the report to the vote which were declared CARRIED.

Council therefore unanimously RESOLVED following its referral by Cabinet on 13 October 2025 to approve formal sign off and adoption of the Brent Youth Justice Plan 2025-28 as detailed within Appendix A of the report.