The Youth Justice Board (YJB) for England and Wales has released its latest Targeted Prevention and Diversion: Evidence Pack, which compiles current research and data on effective prevention and diversion activities. The publication aims to enhance understanding of what works to prevent offending and encourage wider use of these approaches.
The YJB's report indicates that in the year ending December 2025, 43% of recorded outcomes involving a youth justice service were diversionary, meaning they did not result in a caution or court sentence. In 2025, around 13,300 children were cautioned or sentenced, marking a 65% decrease since 2015. First-time entrants also fell to 8,110 in the year ending December 2024, the lowest level since 2014.
Challenges remain regarding ethnic disparities, as White children (53%) were almost twice as likely as Black children (27%) to receive a diversionary outcome. There is also significant geographic variation in diversionary outcomes, ranging from 63% in Wales to 17% in London.
Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board, stated that diverting children from the formal criminal justice system into targeted support is the most effective method to reduce reoffending and prevent lasting harm.