Report of the Children’s Commission, Children’s involvement in the 2024 Riots, January 2024
The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel De Souza, has produced a report following an investigation into children involved in the riots that occurred in the summer of 2024. The report aims to understand the motivations of children who participated in the riots and how they had been treated by the youth justice system, and to inform changes. Her report, Children’s involvement in the 2024 riots (the Report) was published on 28 January, 2025.
Details
The Children’s Commissioner’s office interviewed 14 children, six of whom were in custody and eight in the community, to examine their experiences leading up to and during the riots, and the support received since. The Report emphasises the importance of listening to and implementing changes based on first-hand accounts of experiences of children involved in the riots. It finds that many children participated spontaneously, driven by curiosity or the thrill of the moment, rather than through premeditated actions. Some children expressed a deep distrust of the police, which motivated their involvement as a form of retaliation against previous interactions.
Children’s accounts did not support the prevailing narrative that online misinformation, racism, or right-wing influences online were the primary drivers. Conversely, the Report highlights that children’s perspectives are often overlooked, with adults making assumptions about their actions without consulting them. It emphasises that children's natural impulsivity and developmental stages necessitate protections and appropriate responses within public services and the justice system.
The Report also highlighted the following:
- The level of influence on children by adults during the incidents - many children described adults encouraging them and other children to throw objects at the police, even providing them with projectiles, such as bricks.
- Children as young as 9 or 10 years old were encouraged by their parents to join in.
- Children described being kettled by the police for hours during these incidents and the violence escalating suddenly.
- The speed that the cases were dealt with led to children also receiving inconsistent treatment. It compares two similar cases where children were initially charged with violent disorder. One child was given an out of court disposal following intervention by the Youth Justice Service, whereas in the other case YJS were not even given the opportunity to review a child’s case and give a recommendation as to whether an Out of Court Disposal would be appropriate.
- The approach to arrests was also inconsistent, with some police forces not adhering to pre-arranged agreements with Youth Justice Services.
While the Report acknowledges the need for accountability, it stresses the importance of rehabilitation and positive change for children. It criticises the unusually severe and swift sentences handed down to children involved in the riots, which often disrupted their education and employment. The Report calls for a youth justice system that balances punishment with rehabilitation, reflecting children's potential for positive change.
Ultimately, the Report’s stated aim is to foster constructive dialogue and change, ensuring that every child has the opportunity for a safe and enriching upbringing, even those who have committed crimes.
Commentary
The Report identifies some concerning issues in relation to the treatment of children by the youth justice system at the time of the riots in summer 2024.
Many of the issues noted in the Report arise from the conflict between the child-first approach of the youth justice system and the desire for procedural expediency at the time of the riots. The youth justice system is designed to place children first, focusing on preventing offending by addressing underlying needs. This approach involves seeing children as distinct from adults, encouraging positive behaviours, collaborating with children, and diverting them from formal justice processes to minimise stigma and long-term impact.
The response of the youth justice system to the riots came into conflict with these principles. Procedures were expedited, due to a perceived need to demonstrate a robust response and deter further protests. This often resulted in children being treated similarly to adults within the justice system.
It is also concerning that following arrest, children often spent prolonged periods in police custody, which is recognised by the Home Office Concordat on Children as harmful.[1] Many children reported staying in police custody for 48 to 72 hours.
[1] Home Office, Concordat on children in custody, published 30 October 2017.