Youth justice plan focuses on prevention and rehabilitation

Wolverhampton is building on strong progress in youth justice with a new two-year plan designed to help more children and young people make positive choices, stay safe and achieve brighter futures.

The city's Youth Justice Plan 2026-2028, which was presented to Full Council yesterday (Wednesday), outlines the achievements of the Youth Justice Service over the last year and sets out key priorities for the next two years – with a focus on preventing offending, reducing reoffending, supporting victims and ensuring children and young people receive the right help at the right time.

Wolverhampton's Youth Justice Service works with children aged 10 to 18 who have come into contact with the criminal justice system, bringing together professionals from a range of organisations to provide support for children, young people and their families. The service takes a child-first approach, helping children and young people understand the consequences of their actions while addressing the wider issues that may have contributed to their behaviour.

The new plan highlights the city's continued commitment to early intervention and prevention, helping to divert children and young people away from crime wherever possible and supporting them to access education, training, employment, and positive opportunities in their communities.

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “This is a plan which reflects very strong performance and a clear ambition for our city's children and communities.

“It's a statutory plan but, more importantly, it demonstrates our shared commitment with partners to prevent children from entering the youth justice system, reduce reoffending and keep our communities safe.

“I am proud to say that Wolverhampton continues to deliver a high performing youth justice service – in 2025-26 we achieved a 97% successful completion of interventions, we have low reoffending rates which are well below the national average, and a 50% reduction in custody.

“These results really matter because behind every one of these figures is a child being supported to make safer choices, and a community that is safer as a result.

“This plan builds on that success, and at its heart is a set of priorities which include prevention and diversion, intervening early to stop children entering the system, tackling exploitation violence and knife crime, improving mental health and trauma informed support, strengthening education, employment and post-16 pathways, and continuing to strengthen multi-agency partnership working.

“Our vision is simple but powerful, to support every child to build a positive future, to reduce harm, and to ensure Wolverhampton remains safe and inclusive for all.”

The plan was approved by Full Council yesterday and will guide the work of the Youth Justice Service and its partners through to 2028.