No further action is when the police make a decision not to charge someone with an offence. This may be because there is not enough evidence or it is not in the public interest.
It is not usually in the public interest to criminalise children.
“It is important that young people are not criminalised for behaviour which can be dealt with more appropriately by other means.”
Children should be diverted away from the courts where possible.
An out-of-court disposal may take the place of a prosecution if it is an appropriate response to the offender and/or the seriousness and consequences of the offending.
Informal out-of-court disposals such as triage or outcome 21 will be recorded as no further action (NFA).