First-time young offender rate drops by 20% in a year

The number of first-time young offenders in England has dropped by more than 20% according to new government figures published today.

The drop applies to young people receiving a reprimand, warning or conviction for the first time and was seen across all regions in England.

The 21.6% fall also follows a drop of 10% in the figures last year, demonstrating a “consistent trend” over the past two years, according to the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said, “These figures show that our efforts to prevent low level offences escalating into more serious crime are working.

“Today’s figures also need to be put in the context of falling youth re-offending rates and a fall in overall crime rates. I am really pleased that we have hit our target early to reduce first time entrants by a fifth.

“But we are not complacent – we need to maintain this target rate, which is why we continue to make youth crime and anti-social behaviour a priority. That is why we will be intervening in the 50,000 most problematic families, increasing Safer School Partnerships between schools and police, and cracking down on young people who breach their ASBOs, as well as their parents.”