The Department for Education has published a protocol on reducing criminalisation of looked-after children – a framework to help social care and criminal justice agencies keep looked-after children out of the criminal justice system. The protocol aims to avoid the prosecution of looked after children and care leavers wherever possible and appropriate, by encouraging a response to incidents which reduces the likelihood of criminalisation, offending or reoffending. It includes a model local multi-agency protocol.
Reducing criminalisation of looked after children
