Barking and Dagenham Council's Cabinet has endorsed a new three-year Youth Justice Plan that aims to build on significant progress in reducing youth offending, cutting reoffending rates and keeping more young people out of custody.

The Youth Justice Plan 2026-2029 highlights the strong performance of the borough's Youth Justice Service, which works with partners across the council, police, health services and education to support young people and help prevent them from entering the criminal justice system.

The report shows positive reductions across all three national youth justice measures: 

• Fewer first-time entrants into the youth justice system
• Reduced reoffending among children and young people, with rates now lower than both regional and national averages
• Fewer children entering custody, with Barking and Dagenham achieving a greater reduction than both regional and national comparators.

Particularly encouraging is the progress made in reducing the number of young people entering the youth justice system for the first time. While historically higher than comparable areas, Barking and Dagenham has seen sustained improvement, moving from having the second-highest rate nationally to the 14th highest.

The plan also builds on the service's recent success following an HM Inspectorate of Probation inspection, which rated the service "Good" overall and judged its planning and delivery work with children as "Outstanding".

Over the next three years, the service will focus on strengthening support for victims, further reducing first-time entrants, improving participation and collaboration with young people and families, promoting equality and inclusion, and developing services through the Government's Families First reforms.

Councillor Jane Jones, Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care, Education and Schools, said: "This plan reflects the hard work being carried out by our Youth Justice Service and partners to help children and young people make positive choices and reach their full potential.

"We're seeing encouraging reductions in youth offending and reoffending, with performance improving against national measures and, in some areas, surpassing regional and national averages. These achievements mean more young people are being diverted away from crime and given the support they need to build brighter futures.

"The new plan sets out how we will continue that progress, putting children first, listening to their experiences and working alongside families and partners to keep young people safe, supported and on the right path."

The Youth Justice Plan will now be recommended to Full Council for approval.