The government needs to adopt clear official targets to peg and then reduce the prison population, if we are to rehabilitate offenders effectively and reduce crime.

Nacro has long argued that resettlement arrangements to support offenders should not begin or end at the prison gate but start in prison and continue in the community.

Nacro is against on the spot fines for children and young people; it will not reduce bad behaviour or address the underlying causes.

Nacro is lobbying for children and young people who have offended but have high welfare needs to be dealt with by family courts.

Over the past ten years, despite a significant fall in youth crime, we have seen a steep rise in the number of young people going into custody.

Nacro broadly welcomes support packages for parents but they should not be treated as a quick fix solution on their own.

Tackling school exclusion and children missing out from education plays a key part in the efforts to cut crime and anti social behaviour.

Nacro is against the idea of holding young people in adapted cells on adult wings. The whole culture of an adult prison is not suitable for under 18 year olds, who have different needs and should be held separately.

There is little research available on the effectiveness of ASBOs in tackling young people’s behaviour and so there is little proof that they actually work.

Nacro believes that prison should only be reserved for young people who represent a serious risk to the public.