The Government will review care for vulnerable children to prevent them from ending up in prison. They will explore how local authorities, schools, and police can collaborate to identify at-risk children and provide targeted support like trauma counselling and peer mentoring.

Changes to the National Protocol could enforce stricter checks on health services, schools, and police, ensuring they provide proper support and treat children in care fairly.

This announcement, marking National Care Leavers’ month, addresses the Children’s Commissioner finding children in care often treated as criminals. The call for a strengthened National Protocol applied consistently is the first step.

Children and Families Minister Josh MacAlister said: “If a child in care ends up in contact with the justice system, our strengthened National Protocol will make sure they are treated with care and compassion. Combined with our measures to require councils to provide better support and accommodation for care leavers, this is a key step in breaking down barriers to opportunity for some of the most vulnerable young people in our society.”