Wolverhampton City Council has approved the Youth Justice Plan 2026-2028, setting out priorities for preventing youth offending and supporting young people in contact with the criminal justice system.
The plan was presented to Full Council on Wednesday and outlines achievements over the past year alongside key priorities through 2028. The city's Youth Justice Service works with children aged 10 to 18 who have entered the criminal justice system, bringing together professionals from multiple organisations to support young people and their families.
Current Performance
In 2025-26, the service achieved a 97% successful completion rate for interventions. Reoffending rates remain well below the national average, and the city has delivered a 50% reduction in custody.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said the results demonstrate a safer community. "Behind every one of these figures is a child being supported to make safer choices," Coogan said.
Key Priorities
The plan prioritises prevention and diversion to stop children entering the youth justice system. Other priorities include early intervention to tackle exploitation, violence and knife crime, improving mental health and trauma-informed support, and strengthening education, employment and post-16 pathways.
The service takes a child-first approach, helping young people understand the consequences of their actions while addressing wider issues that may have contributed to their behaviour. The plan emphasises early intervention to divert children away from crime and support them in accessing education, training, employment and positive opportunities in their communities.
The Youth Justice Plan will guide the service and its partners through to 2028.