The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill fails to address burning injustices in our youth justice system caused when a child turns 18. Here, the AYJ sets out recommendations to improve the Bill and ensure children are treated as children.

Clause 136 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill proposes reforms to criminal records. Here, the AYJ examines these reforms and sets out our recommendations.

Clause 131 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill proposes changes to the use of remand for children. Here, the AYJ examines these changes and sets out our recommendations.

While the AYJ has numerous concerns across many different aspects of the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Bill, we have narrowed these down to three principal concerns regarding the impact on children’s rights as set out by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). These are the ways in which the Bill fails to treat children as children, will increase the incarceration of children, and exacerbate racial disparities.

Clauses 7-21 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill introduce a multi-agency ‘Serious Violence Duty’. Here, the AYJ examines the Duty and our recommendations for change.

Clauses 100-106 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill propose changes to child custody. Here, the AYJ examines these changes and sets out our recommendations.

Clauses 166-169 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill proposes an expansion of video links in court. Here, the AYJ examines these proposals and sets out our recommendations.

Clause 135 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill proposes reforms to community sentencing. Here, the AYJ examines these reforms and sets out our recommendations.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill will further entrench racial disparities and continue to reduce public trust and confidence in the criminal justice system. Here, the AYJ examines the Bill on the grounds of racial inequality and sets out our recommendations.

The AYJ has published written evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) on the implications of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill for children.

Back in March, to mark our relaunch as the Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ), we held an event which questioned how we could reimagine ‘justice’ for children. Watch the event highlights here!

Our joint statement calls on Government to embrace a new vision of childhood and set out an ambitious cross-Government plan, backed by significant investment, that will be transformational for this generation of children.

Find out what we've been up to in the month of May!

Millie will be working on all things communications and engagement, assisting with the development of the AYJ’s communications strategy and leading on its implementation to reach a variety of audiences including policy makers, the public, AYJ members and the wider sector.

In collaboration with press regulator, IMPRESS, AYJ held a consultation with our members on what best practice for media reporting on children and youth justice should look like. It was an opportunity to share experiences of children’s interactions with and portrayals in the media.

AYJ Young Advocates provide feedback to HMI Probation on its 2021-2022 inspections.

Our joint statement calls on the Children’s Social Care Review to publicly commit to upholding the principles and provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill, currently at Committee Stage in the House of Commons, introduces a whole host of provisions with a range of impacts across the youth justice system. Our Committee Stage briefing examines the proposals.

Find out what we've been up to in the month of April!

Young people and professionals alike have often highlighted the challenge of the ‘cliff-edge’ facing young people as they turn 18 – and much has been done in recent years to address this in certain parts of the system. Services for those with special educational needs and disabilities are available for many – though by no means all – until the age of 25…