WARRINGTON Borough Council has highlighted a year of positive youth justice results, with no children from the town remanded or sentenced to custody during 2025/26.
The figures were highlighted by Cllr Matt Smith, the council’s cabinet member for children’s services, following Cabinet’s approval of the latest Cheshire Youth Justice Strategic Plan on Monday, November 9.
The plan sets out how Warrington, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Halton will work together to prevent offending, reduce reoffending, support victims and protect communities.
Cllr Smith said the absence of custodial remands and sentences for Warrington children during the financial year was a significant milestone, reflecting the impact of partnership working and early intervention.
He also highlighted figures showing that fewer than 10 per cent of children across Cheshire who received out-of-court resolutions went on to reoffend within 12 months.
“That means 90% stayed out of trouble, which directly creates safer neighbourhoods and fewer victims,” he said.
Out-of-court resolutions are intended to address offending without proceeding through the full court process where appropriate. They can include restorative approaches and interventions designed to help children understand the consequences of their actions and prevent further offending.
According to Warrington Borough Council, Cheshire Youth Justice Service works with children aged 10 to 17 and takes a multi-agency approach involving children and their families, victims and partner organisations.
The service follows a “Child First” approach, focusing on the circumstances and barriers that can contribute to offending, while seeking to reduce further involvement in the criminal justice system.
Cllr Smith stressed, however, that supporting young people must go hand in hand with recognising the impact of crime on victims.
He said a new Victims’ Advisory Board had been established to ensure victims’ experiences help shape services and safety planning. The service has also adopted new national guidance on knife crime, with early assessment and intervention when a young person is found carrying a weapon.
Looking ahead, priorities include creating paid work placements for young people under supervision, helping them develop skills and independence, and preparing for the Government’s Young Futures Prevention Partnerships.
A new remand fostering scheme is also planned, offering an alternative for some children who might otherwise be held in custody.
The wider plan also identifies prevention, diversion from formal prosecution where appropriate, restorative justice and support for victims as key elements of the Cheshire-wide approach. The Government’s statutory guidance requires youth justice partnerships to produce annual plans setting out how they will prevent offending and reduce reoffending.
The latest results provide an encouraging picture for Warrington, although the custody figures relate specifically to children remanded or sentenced to custody and should not be interpreted as meaning there was no youth crime during the year.
The refreshed strategic plan covers 2026/27, with the aim of building on the results through continued partnership working and measures to prevent young people from becoming involved in crime.
Read the plan Youth Justice Plan.
