Prevention, children and young people

Preventing crime has been a core principle of policing since Sir Robert Peel’s time, and remains fundamental to modern policing. By championing prevention and early intervention, PCCs can make a lasting impact—protecting communities, improving life outcomes for young people, and driving long-term reductions in crime.

The APCC’s Prevention and Children and Young People portfolio of work focuses on early intervention and diverting young people away from the criminal justice system to create safer communities.

Why prevention matters

A strong focus on prevention and early intervention reduces crime and helps deliver wider societal and economic benefits:

• Breaks the cycle of offending – research shows that around 80% of prolific adult offenders began committing crimes as children
• Reduces costs – the estimated economic cost of late intervention is £20.6 billion per year
• Eases demand on services – lower crime rates reduce pressure on police, courts, prisons, local authorities, and healthcare providers
• Helps future-proof crime reduction efforts 
• Reinforces the vital role of PCCs in Prevention Partnerships and the government’s Young Futures Programme

Our approach

The APCC provides strategic leadership at a national level, while also supporting PCCs in implementing effective local prevention strategies. We are guided by evidence-based approaches that span primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention—focusing on the root causes of crime rather than reactive responses.

Key initiatives

We have developed a programme of work to support PCC involvement in  crime prevention and meeting young people’s needs, building upon existing APCC guidance such as the Public Health Approach for PCCs and their Offices. This includes:

• Public health and policing session – a tailored session for PCCs on delivering a public health approach to policing, featuring expert input from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
• Prevention and partnerships at the APCC/NPCC Summit – a dedicated session at the November 2024 APCC/NPCC Summit, with contributions from NPCC Prevention Lead, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, and Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Newlove

Portfolio leads