Parents could face fines, benefit cuts or jail for their children's crimes, minister says

Youth Justice Minister Jake Richards said parents could lose benefits, face fines or be jailed for their children's crimes under government plans to strengthen parenting orders in England and Wales.

• Richards said the youth justice system "should hold parents to account in a proportionate way," adding that jail would apply only in the most extreme cases and be left to judges' discretion.
• Richards said parents could face custodial sentences or have benefits docked, stating that "ultimately it will be up to a judge."
• Then-Justice Secretary David Lammy said in May that the strengthened orders would bring "real consequences" for parents who wilfully fail to support their children, expecting jail to be used "very, very rarely."
• Government statistics show parenting orders have declined from more than 1,000 in 2009/10 to 33 in 2022/23.