Information for children and families

If you have been arrested

If you are under 18 and have been arrested, the police will usually take you to a police station. They will contact your parents or carers to tell them where you are.

You have the right to have an “appropriate adult” with you at the station. Their job is to make sure you are treated fairly, that you understand your rights and that you are safe.

An appropriate adult must be over 18. They could be:

• your parent or guardian
• another family member
• a professional who knows you, such as a social worker or youth worker

An adult cannot be your appropriate adult if:

• they were a victim or witness of the crime
• they are part of the police investigation
• the police think they were involved in the crime

If nobody who knows you can come, the police will ask the Youth Justice Service to send an appropriate adult to support you.

Your appropriate adult will stay with you during interviews. You should also have a solicitor who can explain what is happening and help you in the interview. If you do not have one, the police can arrange this for you.

After the interview, the police might:

• release you while they decide what happens next, or
• keep you at the station if it is a more serious crime, until you go to court

What happens next

You might be referred to the Youth Justice Service. We are here to support you, your family and help you move towards a better future.

A Youth Justice Officer will contact you and meet you somewhere that works for you. They will:

• ask about what happened and how you feel
• speak to your family, teacher, or social worker
• write an assessment with you called “My Assessment and Plan (MAP)” 

This plan looks at how your life is going and what support you need. It also lists what you will need to do next: either agreed with your Youth Justice Officer or at a panel meeting.

Your Youth Justice Officer will:

• be open and honest with you
• listen to you and your family
• work with others to give you the best chance
• support you if you want to make a complaint
• help you get back on track if you find things difficult 

You can also use Xchange - Mind of My Own, a digital tool that lets you share your thoughts and feelings with us at any time.

What might you have to do

Your plan will depend on things like: 

• your age
• the crime
• whether you have been in trouble before

Activities could include:

• going to education sessions (reading, maths, or training)
• talking about what happened and what you have learned
• sessions about drugs or alcohol
• learning practical skills such as carpentry or mechanics

You may also take part in what is called reparation or restorative justice. These are ways to make up for what happened and help you move on.

Reparation means trying to put things right after your crime. It is not a punishment, it is a chance to do something positive. You might:

• write a letter of apology
• fix or replace something you damaged
• help in the community (for example, gardening, park clean-ups, or charity work)

Reparation helps victims feel supported and helps you see the impact of your actions. It can help you to move towards a more positive outcome.