Core indicator
Justice System Involvement
Proven violent offences committed by children
Last updated March 2025
(March 2025)
Data published: January 2026
How are we measuring justice system involvement?
To get a sense of how many children are becoming involved in the criminal justice system, particularly in relation to violence, we’ve used the number of 10-17-year-olds cautioned or convicted for violent offences, reported by the Ministry of Justice. We consider violent crimes to include violence against the person (including offences such as assault and homicide), robbery (which is theft with the use or threat of force) and sexual offences (including rape and other sexual offences). This year, we’ve adapted our measure to count the number of children cautioned or convicted for violent offences, rather than the number of proven offences committed by children.
It’s important to bear in mind that this indicator can be affected by changes in policing and the justice system.
What does our core indicator show?
Overall, this measure shows an improving picture. In the latest year (2024/25), 3,970 children received cautions or convictions for violent offences. This is down 2.8% from the previous year (2023/24), down 10% from the year before Covid (2019/20) and down 24% compared to ten years ago (2014/15).
Read our full beyond the headlines report
- Report
Report:Beyond the Headlines 2026
About the report Beyond the Headlines is our annual look at key trends and data on violence affecting children and young people. We use 11 indicators to track whether things are getting better or worse, and how well the systems that matter most for supporting children and young people are performing. This year we’ve added a new indicator…
