YEF calls for urgent government action to tackle racial disproportionality in violence affecting children

New report exposes the stark extent of disproportionality, calling for action across youth justice, education, healthcare and policing

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) is calling on the government to take five key actions to tackle the disproportionate impact of violence on young people from certain ethnic backgrounds.

A new YEF report gathers the latest evidence to reveal stark racial disparities in violence affecting children and young people. Despite making up just 5% of 16-24-year-olds in England and Wales, Black young people account for 34% of homicide victims in this age group. They are also five times more likely to receive custodial sentences for homicide.

The research highlights that the systems meant to protect children from violence – across policing, youth justice, health and education – are not equally accessible. Black children are over twice [159%] as likely to be stopped and searched, raising concerns about fairness and trust in policing. Meanwhile, Black and Asian children are less likely to be referred to mental health services, limiting their access to essential support.

The youth justice population is falling, but disproportionality is rising

While most children convicted or cautioned in England and Wales are White (72%), Black children are overrepresented at each stage of the justice system.

While youth convictions and cautions have fallen by 72% over the past decade, the proportion of Black children in the system has increased from 8% to 11%, while the share of mixed ethnicity children has risen from 3% to 10%.

The report also highlights striking disparities within ethnic groups. Black Caribbean children are over three times more likely to be arrested than their population share suggests, compared to a much lower rate for Black African children. White Irish and Gypsy or Irish Traveller children also face significant overrepresentation, by 227% and 118% respectively.

Five urgent actions for the government

In light of these findings, the YEF is calling for five evidence-based changes:

1. Ensure stop and search is fair and intelligence-led

Stop and search must be based on intelligence to improve effectiveness and rebuild trust. Alternative policing methods, such as problem-oriented and hotspot policing, are more effective and carry fewer risks of harm or mistrust.

2. Make Outcome 22 a positive outcome in the police outcomes framework

Outcome 22 allows the police to divert children who have committed offences to positive support that could protect them against future involvement in crime. However, it is not currently seen as a positive outcome in the crime reporting outcomes framework, which means that police can be disincentivised from using it. The Government should change this.

3. Monitor and improve access to psychological therapy

Therapeutic approaches have been shown to reduce involvement in violence. Yet Black and Asian children struggle to access mental health support. Better monitoring and more culturally sensitive services will help to improve access.

4. Deliver evidence-based support to children absent or excluded from school

Absence, suspension and exclusion from school are associated with involvement in crime and violence, and some ethnic groups are more likely to be affected. The Government should support schools in delivering evidence-informed strategies for reducing absence and providing appropriate support for suspended and excluded children.

5. Urgently reduce disproportionality and improve conditions in youth custody

Black and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children are starkly overrepresented in custody. Urgent action is needed to address these disparities and improve the conditions and safety of children serving custodial sentences. There should be investment in post-custody resettlement programmes to support rehabilitation.

A growing call for change

The YEF’s findings add to increasing evidence of racial disproportionality in violence and the justice system. In November last year, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published an action plan to tackle racial bias in prosecution decisions.

YEF’s report highlights that racial disproportionality persists across multiple systems — requiring further, urgent government action both within and beyond youth justice.

Jon Yates, CEO at the YEF, said: “It’s wrong and shocking that a Black child in our country is six times more likely to be murdered. All of us want to live in a country where no child fears violence. To get there we have to talk honestly about race and be prepared to act when things are unfair. These five actions show how we make our country fairer and safer for everyone.”

Keith Fraser, Chair of the Youth Justice Board, said: “This Youth Endowment Fund report is a welcome addition to the evidence base. It highlights the shocking disproportionality affecting some children in the youth justice system, particularly those from Black, Mixed, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds.

“It is unacceptable that a child is more likely to be criminalised because of their background. We agree with the recommendations and strongly advocate that children should be treated as children; irrespective of their ethnicity. The YJB has been seeking to highlight the issues of over-representation within the youth justice system for over a decade and in our Strategic Plan for 2024-27 we commit to using all of our legal powers and influence as we collaborate with our partners to address the contributors to racial disparity.”

Dez Brown, CEO at Spark2Life, said: “Spark2Life welcomes the call for action across youth justice, education, healthcare and policing to tackle racial disproportionality in violence affecting children and young people. The report highlights the need to ensure that addressing one public health issue doesn’t inadvertently create another for specific racial groups that are disproportionately targeted.

“There is clear factual evidence of racial disparity, if institutions choose not to prioritise action, they are consciously culpable of racism.  I hope this is not the case – as Rt Hon David Lammy MP said ‘Explain or Reform’.”

Reflecting on the need for stop and search to be fair and intelligence-led, Hanzala, a member of the YEF’s Youth Advisory Board, said:“I somewhat agree with stop and search. I was on a run recently, there was a robbery nearby. They searched me, but I didn’t fit the description of the tall Black male. I did feel panicked… I’ve seen stop and searches where knives have been found especially in Bradford, so I think there should be stop and search. If there are people who are being watched and then targeted I agree with that, but stopping those that are of colour for no reason undermines the whole process.”