Youth Justice Minister Jake Richards convened a roundtable in Manchester on 17 September 2026 with local leaders and experts from youth justice, policing, children's services and education, the Ministry of Justice said. He was joined by Children and Families Minister Josh MacAlister and Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones. The discussion examined how services could work together to identify at-risk children earlier and whether greater freedom for local and regional leaders could help prevent offending.

Kate Green was appointed Expert Adviser on Youth Justice Devolution in England for an initial 18-month, unremunerated period. She is to advise ministers on how strategic authorities could take a greater role in youth justice and crime prevention, working with officials across the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and Department for Education. Ministers also visited SHiFT Manchester, a partnership between the charity SHiFT, Manchester City Council and the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit.

The release said 53 Young Futures pilot panels were operational across England and Wales by the end of October 2025, with a further 12 now operational as delivery continued in 2026/27.