Youth Justice Minister Jake Richards convened local leaders and experts in Manchester today, 17 September 2026, to discuss strategies for preventing young people from being drawn into crime. The roundtable, also attended by Children and Families Minister Josh MacAlister and Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones, explored how services could collaborate more effectively to identify at-risk children earlier.
As part of this initiative, Kate Green has been appointed Expert Adviser on Youth Justice Devolution in England. Her role is to provide independent advice to ministers on how increased local leadership could enhance youth justice and crime prevention efforts. This appointment aligns with the government's broader aim to shift power and accountability from Whitehall to local leaders.
During the day, ministers also visited SHiFT in Manchester, where they met practitioners working with young people at high risk of entering custody or becoming entrenched in crime. Minister Richards stated that identifying those at risk earlier and intervening before they become trapped in a cycle of offending is crucial for cutting crime.