More Than an Arrest: What Happens When We See the Child Before the Offence?

For many children, being arrested is one of the most frightening experiences of their young lives. They find themselves in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by adults in positions of authority, often carrying a history of trauma, adversity or unmet need long before they arrive at a custody suite.

As Youth Justice Lead for Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, I have had the privilege of working alongside Sefton Council, Merseyside Police, health colleagues and the Custody Navigator team. What has struck me most is how quickly partners united around a shared belief that children entering custody deserve more than a criminal justice response alone. Whilst each organisation brings a different perspective, our collective focus has remained the same: creating opportunities for children to access support, build trust and achieve better outcomes.

The recent evaluation of the Merseyside Custody Navigator Programme offers an important reminder that what happens next can make a difference. Rather than viewing custody simply as part of a criminal justice process, the programme asks a different question: how can we use this moment of crisis as an opportunity for support and change? 

Merseyside's Custody Navigator Programme demonstrates the power of partnership in action. Developed through collaboration between Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, Merseyside Police and Youth Justice Services, the programme places dedicated Custody Navigators within Copy Lane Custody Suite to support children aged 10 to 17 at a critical moment in their lives. While Navigators are the visible face of the intervention, the evaluation highlights a much broader story: one of police officers, youth justice practitioners, health professionals, social care services and the Violence Reduction Partnership working together around a shared ambition to improve outcomes for children.

Their role is simple in principle but powerful in practice: to build relationships, understand needs, provide reassurance and connect children and families with the right support. The trust built between agencies has enabled innovative changes within the custody environment, strengthened support pathways and fostered a culture that increasingly sees children as children first. At a time when public services face growing demand and complexity, the Merseyside model offers a compelling example of how evidence, collaboration and a shared commitment to prevention can create meaningful system change. 

In its first year, 132 children from across Merseyside were offered support. Of those, 102 agreed to engage with a Navigator whilst in custody. Sixty-two consented to follow-up support in the community and 36 actively engaged with that support beyond the custody gate. 

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

What stands out most from the evaluation is not the offences children were arrested for, but the level of vulnerability identified when they arrived in custody. Six in ten were already known to services, more than half had social care involvement, a quarter were looked after children, and almost two-thirds had a recorded disability or health need. Over half were identified as neurodivergent, with ADHD being the most commonly recorded condition.

For practitioners working within youth justice, social care or policing, this will not come as a surprise. Many of the children coming into custody have experienced significant adversity long before they become involved in offending behaviour. The challenge is recognising that the arrest is often a symptom rather than the whole story. 

One of the most striking aspects of the programme has been its effort to change the custody experience itself. A dedicated breakout room was created to provide a calmer, less intimidating space for conversations. Cells were adapted with artwork, sensory resources, distraction tools and features designed to reduce anxiety and help children regulate their emotions. 

These changes may seem small, but they represent a significant shift in thinking. Rather than expecting children to adapt to an adult-focused environment, the environment was adapted to better meet the needs of children. For many young people, this is their first experience of a system responding to their needs rather than expecting them to manage alone. 

The evaluation suggests that this approach matters. Children and families consistently spoke about the importance of the relationships formed with the Navigators. Parents described them as trusted adults who could bridge the gap between families and services. Some reported that their child had re-engaged with education, accessed additional support or simply had someone they felt comfortable talking to during a difficult period. Children spoke positively about having somebody who listened without judgement and supported them through the uncertainty of bail conditions and ongoing investigations. 

What emerged repeatedly was the value of trust.

Unlike police officers or statutory professionals, Navigators were often viewed as independent, approachable and relatable. Their backgrounds in youth work and education allowed them to connect with children in a way that many traditional services can struggle to achieve. As one stakeholder described, the Navigators became the people who could "weld" fractured relationships back together between families and the systems designed to support them. 

The evaluation also points towards something broader: culture change.

Stakeholders reported a growing shift within the custody environment itself. Through trauma-informed training and the day-to-day influence of the Navigators, there was evidence of language changing from referring to "juveniles" to referring to "children". While this may appear symbolic, language shapes culture, and culture shapes practice. Staff described becoming more aware of the vulnerabilities, trauma and exploitation that can sit behind a child's behaviour. 

For those interested in evidence-based policing, this may be one of the most important findings of all.

Effective policing is not only about enforcement. It is also about understanding vulnerability, preventing future harm and creating opportunities for positive outcomes. The Custody Navigator Programme demonstrates how partnership working, trauma-informed practice and relationship-based support can sit alongside criminal justice processes rather than compete with them. 

The evaluation has also helped shape the next phase of the programme. Building on the success of the pilot at Copy Lane, the model is being expanded into Wirral Custody Suite from September 2026, ensuring that more children across Merseyside can access support at a critical point of intervention. In addition, learning from the Custody Navigator approach has already been adapted beyond the custody environment. Recognising that anxiety, uncertainty and trauma do not end at the custody gate, the model has been extended into the Youth Court, where Navigators provide support to children and families throughout the court process. Working alongside court staff and partners, they have helped create a more trauma-informed environment, offering practical support, reassurance and continuity for children facing what can often be an overwhelming experience. These developments reflect a commitment to continually using evidence, learning and partnership working to improve outcomes for children across the whole youth justice pathway.

The evaluation highlights areas for further development, including increasing capacity, improving outcome measurement and expanding the model across other custody suites. However, the early signs are promising. The programme is already demonstrating how a whole-system approach can strengthen support for children at one of the most critical points in their journey and how the principles underpinning the model can be successfully adapted across different parts of the youth justice system.

At its heart, this programme reminds us that custody is more than a place where children are processed through a system. For some, it may be the first time someone has the opportunity to ask the right questions, understand their experiences and connect them with support.

Sometimes prevention starts not before the crisis, but at the point we choose to respond differently to it.

Sharon Brownlow

Youth Justice Lead

Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership

Sharon leads on youth justice for Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership. She works alongside Sefton Council, Merseyside Police and the Custody Navigator team to support the development and implementation of the Custody Navigator Programme and its Child First, trauma-informed approach to children in police custody.