This AYJ comment responds to a series of recent youth justice developments, including the Youth Justice Statistics 2024–25, the IMB’s annual report on HMYOI Feltham, and the Government’s response to the Justice Committee’s youth custody recommendations. It recognises continued reductions in the number of children entering the system and in custody, while raising concerns about unsafe conditions and calling for greater urgency, ambition and transparency in reform.

The briefing draws from an evidence review; a consultation session bringing together professionals from the youth and adult criminal justice sector, voluntary and community sector, legal practitioners, and academia. It also draws from meetings and interviews with practitioners, subject matter experts, and civil servants.

Our latest briefing draws from an evidence review; a consultation session bringing together professionals from the youth and adult criminal justice sector, voluntary and community sector, legal practitioners, and academia. It also draws from meetings and interviews with practitioners, subject matter experts, and civil servants.

This blog looks at the VASA panel in the London boroughs of Richmond and Kingston. The panel brings together local services – social care, housing, health, education, police, and the voluntary sector – to review cases of 18–25-year-olds at risk of exploitation or violence.

This blog, in conversation with Adam Elliott, a former AYJ Young Advocate and the founder of The Long Game, explores how child criminal exploitation works and looks at the role of peer-led youth work in the sector.

This blog, in conversation with two frontline practitioners at Abianda, explores how Abianda builds trust with young women and girls affected by child criminal exploitation.

This blog captures reflections from Abianda’s Young Women’s Advisory Group,  exploring what meaningful support should look like. Their insights highlight how services can shift power, build trust, and take a trauma-informed, participatory approach that supports girls and young women affected by exploitation as they move into adulthood.

AYJ CEO, Jess Mullen, writes to update our members and partners — reflecting on what we’ve been working on together so far this year and looking ahead to what’s coming up next.

This briefing calls on the government to protect and promote a child centred children’s secure estate, with custody only ever a last resort. It also calls for developing a distinct approach to custody for young adults.

Our new briefing, Setting the youth justice agenda, urges the government to take bold action to reform the youth justice system. We set out changes new Ministers must prioritise to ensure a safeguarding response to vulnerable children, end racial injustice, and ensure that custody is a last resort.

This briefing urges the government to take bold action to reimagine youth justice. We set out changes new Ministers must prioritise to ensure a safeguarding response to vulnerable children, end racial injustice, and guarantee that custody is a last resort.