remove links  in whole article

Parents face fines or jail over child crime, minister warns

Key Points

• Jake Richards, who is the minister of youth justice, argues that parents in England and Wales can face fines, loss of benefits, or even imprisonment if they neglect their children’s criminal behavior.
• These new measures would reinforce Parenting Orders where currently parents or guardians would be asked to undergo counseling or would receive fines worth up to £1,000.
• The proposed measures were termed by Richards as a carrot-and-stick method whereby the extreme cases, such as custody or reduced benefit, will be left to the discretion of judges.
• In May, the government introduced plans of introducing new measures that would reinforce Parenting Orders as part of broader measures to reform youth justice and rehabilitate young offenders.
• According to the government, the plan is aimed at making parents responsible for their children’s behavior.

Wales (Wales Times) September 19, 2026 — Parents in England and Wales could be fined, have their benefits cut or even be jailed if they fail to take responsibility for their children’s criminal behaviour, a government minister has said. Youth Justice Minister Jake Richards told the Times that the justice system should “hold parents to account in a proportionate way for ensuring that they play their role in keeping communities safe”. The proposed reforms would strengthen Parenting Orders, which already compel parents or guardians to address their child’s behaviour through counselling sessions or face financial penalties.

Richards said that while the focus would be on greater parental involvement in rehabilitating young offenders, there would also be consequences for non-compliance. “Yes, that will have some stick. It could be custodial, or docking benefits — ultimately it will be up to a judge,” he told the Times, as reported by the BBC and other outlets. He stressed that imprisonment would be reserved for “the most extreme cases” and that any decision on penalties would rest with the courts.

How will Parenting Orders be strengthened under the government’s youth justice reforms?

The government set out plans in May to strengthen and expand the use of Parenting Orders as part of its youth justice strategy. Under current rules, Parenting Orders can require parents or guardians to attend counselling sessions, including residential courses, or face fines of up to £1,000 if they fail to control their children’s behaviour. Ministers are now considering proposals to increase the maximum fine, introduce benefit cuts and, in the most serious circumstances, allow for custodial sentences.

As reported by Harry Quilter-Pope of The Times, Jake Richards indicated that reducing benefits is one option on the table to hold families to account for young offenders. The Bolton News noted that the reforms indicate a continuation of plans from Sir Keir Starmer’s government, where parents would face harsher consequences including heavier fines and prison sentences for their children’s crimes. GB News reported that ministers said parents and carers should face more meaningful consequences when they deliberately refuse to comply with requirements considered important to preventing further offending.

What did Jake Richards say about parental responsibility and community safety?

Jake Richards, the Youth Justice Minister, has repeatedly emphasised that parents should do more to keep their children out of trouble and that they would be “held to account” if they did not. In an interview with the Times, Mr Richards said: “I absolutely think that the justice system should hold parents to account in a proportionate way for ensuring that they play their role in keeping communities safe”. His comments were echoed across multiple media titles, including the BBC, The Guardian, The Sun and Jang, which all quoted his assertion that the system should ensure parents play their part in maintaining community safety.

Richards described the intended modifications as part of a “carrot-and-stick” strategy, combining support for families with stronger consequences when parents fail to engage. “Parenting orders are going to make sure that parents are more involved in the process by which we try to turn around young offenders,” he explained to the Times. The minister added: “But we want them to be more involved and that comes with responsibilities as well”.

Which penalties could courts impose on parents under the proposed changes?

Under the proposed changes, courts could impose a range of penalties on parents who fail to comply with Parenting Orders. These include financial penalties, such as increased fines beyond the current £1,000 maximum, and reductions or cuts to benefits. In the most serious cases, judges could impose custodial sentences, although Richards stressed this would only be in “the most extreme cases”.

As reported by multiple outlets, including the BBC, The Guardian and The Sun, Richards said:

“It could be custodial, or docking benefits — ultimately it will be up to a judge”.

The Easterneye.biz noted that Richards stressed that prison would be used only “in the most extreme cases” and that any decision would be left to judges. Jang reported that Richard revealed that parents would face jail only “in the most extreme cases” and sentences would be up to judges’ discretion.

When were the government’s plans to expand Parenting Orders first announced?

The government first announced plans in May to strengthen and expand Parenting Orders as part of its youth justice reforms. These proposals indicated that Parenting Orders would be strengthened to ensure greater parental involvement in addressing children’s offending behaviour. The May announcement laid the groundwork for the current discussions around benefit cuts and custodial sentences as potential penalties for non-compliance.

Ministers published a white paper in May calling for more parenting orders to be used, and the proposals indicated they would be strengthened. The Guardian reported that Richards’ remarks follow the government’s announcement in May regarding efforts to enhance and broaden Parenting Orders. GB News noted that the Government plans to strengthen the use of Parenting Orders, which can require parents to take specified steps aimed at preventing their children from committing further offences.

Background to the development

The proposed reforms to Parenting Orders come amid wider government efforts to tackle youth crime in England and Wales. Youth Justice Minister Jake Richards convened local leaders and experts in Manchester earlier in the week to discuss strategies for preventing young people from being drawn into crime. The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales published its business plan for 2026 to 2027 on 17 September, outlining how it will support an effective, evidence-led youth justice system.

Parenting Orders were introduced to compel parents or guardians to take specified steps to prevent their children from committing further offences. The current system allows courts to require parents to attend counselling sessions or face fines of up to £1,000. The proposed changes would expand the range of penalties available to courts and increase the maximum fine, while also introducing benefit cuts and, in extreme cases, custodial sentences.

Predictions for families and communities

The proposed changes to Parenting Orders could have significant implications for families in England and Wales, particularly those with children at risk of offending. Families may face increased pressure to engage with support services and ensure their children comply with court requirements, with the threat of financial penalties or, in extreme cases, imprisonment serving as a deterrent. The “carrot-and-stick” approach described by Richards suggests that while support will be available, there will also be consequences for parents who fail to take responsibility for their children’s behaviour.

For communities, the reforms could lead to greater parental involvement in youth justice processes, potentially reducing reoffending rates among young people. However, the prospect of benefit cuts or custodial sentences for parents may also raise concerns about the impact on vulnerable families and the potential for unintended consequences, such as increased financial hardship or family breakdown. The ultimate effect will depend on how judges exercise their discretion in imposing penalties and how effectively support services are integrated into the reformed Parenting Orders system.