main content Implementation of orders

When young people first get into trouble, behave anti-socially or commit minor offences, they can be dealt with outside of the court system.

If children are behaving anti-socially, the police and local authority can use a variety of pre-court orders including:

• acceptable behaviour contracts;
• anti-social behaviour orders;
• local child curfews;
• child safety orders.

If they have committed a first or second minor offence, a system of reprimands and final warnings can be used by the police.

The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales is a non-departmental public body.  The aim of the Youth Justice Board is to prevent offending by children and young people.

The purpose of these pre-court orders is to stop young people getting drawn into the Youth Justice System too early, whilst still offering them the help and support they need to stop offending.

There is a Referral Orders and Youth Offender Panels - Guidance for Courts Youth Offending Teams and Youth Offender Panels document available to view on the Home Office website.