Youth Crime Defence Solicitors

If your child is arrested, they will usually be taken to a police station where they may be questioned about an alleged offence.

Children and young people under the age of eighteen have additional legal protections. Before any police interview takes place, they have the right to legal advice, and an appropriate adult should be present during questioning.

After the investigation, the police may:

• take no further action (NFA),
• issue a formal out of court disposal, such as caution or youth conditional caution, where appropriate,
• release your child (sometimes on bail) while further enquiries continue, or
• charge them with a criminal offence.

Timely legal representation can be instrumental in influencing the course of an investigation and protecting your child's position from the earliest stage.

Yes. It is strongly advisable that your child is represented by a specialist criminal defence solicitor before answering any police questions.

It is important to understand that what happens during a police interview can play a crucial role in your child’s case. Even if your child believes they have done nothing wrong, it is vital that they have legal representation.

Our solicitors will:

• obtain pre-interview disclosure,
• explain the allegations and the police procedure,
• advise your child on their legal rights,
• recommend the most appropriate strategy for an interview, and
• ensure that your child's interests are protected throughout the investigation.

Yes. In England and Wales, children aged ten to seventeen can be arrested or invited to attend a voluntary interview under caution if the police suspect their involvement in a criminal offence.

A child is entitled to important legal safeguards during any police interview, such as an ‘appropriate adult’ who must be present to support them and help ensure the interview is conducted fairly.

Even where the interview is voluntary, it is advisable to obtain legal representation before your child attends the police station to answer any police questions.

Yes. If your child is under eighteen and is interviewed by the police, an appropriate adult will normally be present. This may be a parent or guardian, although another suitable adult can fulfil this role if necessary.

If you are unsure of your responsibilities, a specialist solicitor can advise you based on your child's individual circumstances.

Not necessarily. Whether your child receives a criminal record depends on the outcome of the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.

If the police take no further action (NFA), your child will not receive a criminal conviction.

If the court found your child guilty of one or more criminal offences, the conviction will be recorded on the Police National Computer and treated as a childhood conviction. Once the conviction becomes spent, the law treats your child as rehabilitated, and they will not usually need to disclose it. However, a sentence exceeding four years in youth custody or a young offender institution will not become spent.

As the long-term consequences can vary depending on the facts of each case, it is best to seek specialist legal advice.

In some cases, yes.

However, custodial sentences are usually reserved for very serious offences where neither a fine nor a community sentence is appropriate.

The Youth Court has a range of sentencing options designed to promote rehabilitation. Only the most serious offences such as violent, sexual and terrorism offences, or cases involving persistent offending where no other sentence is appropriate, are likely to result in a custodial sentence.

Depending on their age and the offence, a child sentenced to custody may be detained in a Secure Children's Home, or Young Offender Institution, rather than an adult prison.

A police investigation does not automatically affect university applications. Much depends on whether your child is convicted, the nature of any offence, and whether the conviction must be disclosed.

In 2019, UCAS removed the requirement for applicants to declare unspent criminal convictions as part of the standard university application process. In addition, many childhood convictions become spent after a rehabilitation period, meaning applicants are not usually required to disclose them.

However, different rules may apply when applying for certain exempt courses or professions, particularly those that involve working with children or vulnerable people, such as in medicine, teaching, or roles that require an enhanced DBS check.

The police do not routinely inform a child’s school, college or university simply because they have been arrested or are under investigation. However, information may be disclosed where there are safeguarding concerns or where it is necessary to preserve evidence or to protect others.