The eleventh report in a year-long series – produced jointly by Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives – sets out an evidence-based plan to protect and support the thousands of vulnerable children in England at risk of involvement with the criminal justice system.

The ESRC Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre has coordinated and co-authored “An evidence-based plan for addressing childhood vulnerability, crime and justice” report as part of the Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives report series.  

The 11th report in a year-long series argues for adressing children’s underlying vulnerabilities and disadvantages, rather than their behaviours. It notes that this is key to preventing children becoming victims of crime and reducing offending.

There are recommendations for prevention and upstream health, social, and educational programmes for children, young people, their families, and communities to keep young people out of the criminal justice system through diversion schemes. It also argues that putting the interests and life chances of children at the heart of coordinated “whole system” policy making and delivery is crucial to the UK’s future success.

The report has contributions from many researchers, and practitioners and policy makers from local authorities, charities and NGOs, as well as people with lived experience.

To access the report  visit: Child of the North 2024 Campaign - Report 11 - N8 Research Partnership