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<p>As at 31 March 2015, five per cent of 10-17 year olds who had been in care for
a year or more had been convicted of an offence or were subject to a final warning
or reprimand.[1] Proven offending by young people, including looked after children
has fallen significantly in recent years. Since the peak in youth offending in 2007,
proven youth offending is down 79%; first-time entrants to the youth justice system
are down 82%. Youth offending teams work with the police and other agencies to prevent
looked after children from offending and coming in to contact with the youth justice
system.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has asked Sir Martin Narey to review residential
care for looked after children and he will make recommendations on criminalisation.
Charlie Taylor is leading a review of youth justice. We will respond to those reviews
in due course.</p><p> </p><p>I am grateful to the Prison Reform Trust for their contribution
to this important debate. The Minister of State for Children and Families recently
met with Lord Laming to discuss the contents of the Prison Reform Trust’s report ‘In
care, out of trouble’.</p><p> </p><p><em><br> </em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[1] Department
for Education Statistical First Release - 34/2015</p>
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