David Lammy promises 25% cut in number of children jailed while they await trial
David Lammy has announced plans to reduce the number of children jailed while awaiting trial by 25% as part of a youth justice overhaul. The proposed measures aim to provide judges with more community sentencing options and could potentially eliminate lifelong criminal records for minors. Lammy emphasizes the detrimental effects of incarceration on young lives and advocates for tailored intervention strategies.
- ▪David Lammy aims to cut the number of children in jail by 25% while they await trial.
- ▪The proposed reforms include a wider range of community sentences for under-18s.
- ▪Lammy plans to create a new offence for child criminal exploitation to penalize adults who encourage youth crime.
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The measures will give judges a wider range of community sentences to cut the numbers of children in jail further. Photograph: Andrew Aitchison/Corbis/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenThe measures will give judges a wider range of community sentences to cut the numbers of children in jail further. Photograph: Andrew Aitchison/Corbis/Getty ImagesUK criminal justiceDavid Lammy promises 25% cut in number of children jailed while they await trialJustice secretary’s white paper will overhaul youth justice rules and could end lifelong criminal records for under-18sKiran Stacey Policy editorSun 17 May 2026 19.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleDavid Lammy has promised to cut the number of children kept in jail while they await trial by a quarter as part of an overhaul of youth justice…
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