I was delighted to speak to the NAYJ conference about Labour’s approach to youth justice, including the importance of early intervention to prevent children and young people falling into repeated involvement with the criminal justice system. Early intervention will make it more likely that we can set young people on a positive path. I also made clear that under my watch there will be no return to arbitrary policing targets.

I told them Labour understands the need for a major expansion of mental health services for both children and adults, and that we have to take an approach that recognises the damage childhood experiences, including trauma, can cause.