Youth offending team (YOT)

A local council team, separate from police and courts, that works with children aged 10 to 17 who get into trouble with the law.

A youth offending team (YOT) is a multi-agency team run by each local authority in England and Wales under section 39 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Many areas now call it a youth justice service. It brings together staff from children's services, the police, probation, health and education, and it is separate from the police and courts. YOTs work with children aged 10 to 17 who have been arrested, cautioned or charged. They can support children at the police station, assess them for out-of-court outcomes such as youth cautions, write pre-sentence reports for the youth court, set up youth offender panels for referral orders, and supervise youth rehabilitation orders and the community part of detention and training orders. They also run local crime prevention and diversion schemes and keep in touch with children in custody.

Checked as at 25 September 2026. General information only, not legal advice.