Croydon Council has made significant strides in improving outcomes for children and the wider community. Over the past year robbery rates amongst under-18s have fallen by 10%, reoffending rates are below the national average and fewer children are spending time in custody – this is owing to the Council’s ‘child-first’ approach to youth crime.
Croydon is a young borough with London’s largest under-19 population and one of Executive Mayor, Jason Perry’s, top priorities is to help them thrive, keeping them safe from harm, and enabling them to fulfil their potential.
By working closely with partners across police, health, education, probation, social care and the voluntary community and faith sector, the emphasis has been on early intervention, keeping children out of the criminal system to avoid stigma, helping them to develop positive identities and giving them opportunities for a fresh start.
The Council’s Youth Justice Service supported 289 children last year, most of whom were aged 16 to 17 and facing complex challenges such as exploitation, mental health issues, and being out of education.
Council programmes like the Turnaround and Engage projects helped reconnect young people with positive activities and education. They also gained valuable paid work experience through partners such as Veolia Recycling and Croydon Youth Theatre and volunteered with local charities.
One young person spoke very positively about the support they received, saying it “feels good to be appreciated and recognised” and “not getting a shadow cast because of one incident” but being “encouraged to a better future” instead.
Detective Inspector Sam Hart of the Met Police said: “As DI in charge of the robbery team that covers Croydon, we’ve seen a reduction in robberies in the last twelve plus months in the borough. This should offer reassurance to all residents and members of the public. We are also seeing consistently positive outcomes for our young people on both sides of the judicial system and the collaborative relationship between partners has certainly contributed to these successes.”
At its meeting on 24 September, Cabinet will consider plans to extend this important work into 2026, focusing on why children from certain backgrounds – particularly Black and mixed-heritage boys and those involved with social care – are more likely to be drawn into crime. Next year’s Youth Justice Plan will also aim to strengthen support for girls affected by violence and improve how services engage with victims. The plan will then be presented to Full Council next month.
“It’s encouraging to see the positive impact of our Youth Justice Plan – creating more opportunities for young people and helping to keep our streets safer. Many young people face difficult circumstances through no fault of their own and our early support can be life changing. I’m grateful to all our partners for their continued commitment.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
NOTES:
- Reoffending rates in Croydon amongst under-18s are currently 29.1%, the London average is 30.4% whilst the national average is 32.1%.
- In 2020-21, 20 under-18s were held in custody in Croydon. This decreased to 14 during 2024-2025. So far during 2025, only six under-18s have spent time in custody.
- The statistics and more information is available on the Council website.
