Fewer children entered the criminal justice system for the first time in 2025/26 than in the previous 12 months, according to data presented to Hertfordshire county councillors.

According to the data, in 2024/25, 130 children under 18 were dealt with by the criminal justice system for the first time. But last year (2025/26) that number dropped to 90 – a fall of just over 30% compared to last year.

The first-time entrant data is a measure that relates to those who receive a first formal outcome, including a caution, warning, reprimand or court sentence, recorded on the police national computer.

The figures were presented to a meeting of the county council’s children’s and families cabinet panel last Wednesday.

Fewer children were entered the criminal justice system in Hertfordshire

placeholder image — Fewer children were entered the criminal justice system in Hertfordshire

A further breakdown of data for the final three months of 2025/26 revealed that of the 28 first-time entrants recorded between January and March, 67.9% – 19 – were aged 16 or 17.

A further 17.8% – five children – were aged 14 and 15. Meanwhile, 14.3% – four were reported to be 13.

The main offence recorded for 12 of those children (42.8%) was violence against the person, and for six (21.4%) it was motoring offences. In four cases (14.3%) the main offence was robbery, and in two (7.1%) the offence was listed as drugs.

In addition, there was one case of theft and handling stolen goods, one of vehicle theft/unauthorised taking, one of criminal damage and one recorded as public order.