Colin Allars YJB Chief Executive said:

The number of young people in custody has fallen to its lowest ever level – just 861 were in custody in July 2016, 73% lower than October 2002 when there were 3,200. Those working across the whole youth justice sector have delivered a huge reduction in the numbers of children in the system – falling from 147,800 at its peak in 2006/7 to just 37,900 in 2014/15.

This has significantly reduced the impact of young people’s offending on society, their potential victims, and on the young people themselves, as well as helping to deliver savings to the economy.

Notes to editors

You can view the custody statistics on GOV.UK