New data obtained by Revolving Doors Agency under the Freedom of Information legislation reveals that:

• Over half of all reoffences committed by young adults are theft and summary non-motoring offences.
• Young adults whose index offences are theft and summary non-motoring offences also have the highest rates of reoffending in the same category as their index offence.
• Theft creates the highest level of churn of repeat offences in the same category, with a ratio of 994 reoffences per 1,000 reoffenders.
• This rate is strikingly above any other crime category. It is 12 times higher than repeated possession of a weapon (for example carrying knives) and 6 times higher than repeated violence against a person.

These new figures expose the difference in demand created by young adults committing more serious and sometimes violent crime and the group often called ‘the revolving door’ who commit persistent low-level offences driven by a combination of needs stemming from complex trauma and poverty. These repeated, non-violent offences drive demand for our police, courts and justice system but are driven by underlying, unaddressed need.

The volume and churn of young adults who are sucked into the criminal justice system for relatively minor offences highlights the need for a radical new approach. The current failing approach resulted in the proportion of people with a history of repeat offending reaching at its highest ever level, accounting for nearly two fifths of all offenders.

This stark evidence comes at the same time as Revolving Doors publish an evidence briefing “New Generation” highlighting the critical role of Police and Crime Commissioners and police services in preventing the new generation of young adults entering the revolving door. The report brings together new perspectives on characteristics and needs of young adults entering the revolving door.

Revolving Doors Agency has also announced that they are offering bespoke consultancy and intensive on the ground support for five areas to kick-start local initiatives. These sites will benefit from their research, lived experience, policy, and service design expertise. Their support, which will be free of charge, can help Police and Crime Commissioners and their offices implement new strategies to support better options for young adults, such as deferred prosecutions or diversion schemes to keep young adults out of the criminal justice system.

Dan Jarvis, Labour MP for Barnsley Central and Shadow Minister for Justice, visited a new Rotherham service for young adults in contact with the criminal justice system.  Part of the national T2A Transition to Adulthood Alliance Pathway programme, the service supports young adults to access community resources to help with areas such as employment and training, housing, mental health and substance misuse. They are supported to identify, understand and alter any behaviours that are creating distress, and to develop tools to uphold these changes. This might include building emotional awareness, confidence, negotiation and problem-solving skills, as well as strengthening their relationships with others, such as family and friends.

Run by national mental health charity Together, the service provides support to 17 to 24-year-olds from the point they come into contact with police and emergency services in Rotherham. Staff help young adults to manage their mental well-being and to avoid future contact with police or overuse of emergency services. Dan Jarvis’ visit coincides with the official launch of the project, which started taking referrals this March.

Dan Jarvis talked to staff and heard about young people’s experiences to learn about how the service works in practice and how young adults benefit.  He said: “Young people with mental health problems are significantly over-represented in youth custody, and far too many end up coming into contact with the criminal justice system because they are unable to access support at an earlier stage.  Much more needs to be done to tackle this if we want to stop youth crime before it starts and successfully rehabilitate young people who do commit offences.