Parents could lose benefits or face prison for child's crimes, minister says
A UK minister has stated that parents could face prison sentences or benefit cuts for their children's crimes under proposed youth justice reforms. These measures aim to hold guardians accountable for ensuring community safety through a combination of support and penalties. Critics argue that such punitive approaches may undermine the stability and support necessary for young offenders.
- ▪Youth Justice Minister Jake Richards indicated that prison sentences for parents would only apply in extreme cases and remain at the discretion of judges.
- ▪The government plans to strengthen Parenting Orders, which currently require parents to attend counseling or face fines for their child's behavior.
- ▪Critics, including the Alliance for Youth Justice, argue that voluntary engagement is more effective than punitive measures for supporting children.
- ▪The reforms follow the Southport Inquiry report, which identified catastrophic failures by parents and agencies in preventing the 2024 child murders.
- ▪Minister Richards rejected calls to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10, stating it would undermine public faith in the justice system.
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| Original publisher | BBC News — UK |
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| Publication time | Sat, 19 Sep 2026 07:19:48 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-19T07:58:45.886Z |
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Parents could lose benefits or face prison for child's crimes, minister saysImage source, Getty ImagesByOttilie MitchellPublished19 September 2026, 04:19 BSTUpdated 27 minutes agoParents could lose their benefits or face prison sentences for their children's crimes under reforms to the youth justice system, a minister has said.Youth Justice Minister Jake Richards told the Times newspaper the system "should hold parents to account in a proportionate way for ensuring that they play their role in keeping communities safe".His comments come after the government set out plans in May to strengthen and expand Parenting Orders, which can currently compel parents or guardians to address their child's behaviour by attending counselling sessions or face fines.Richards said prison sentences would…
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