Skip to content

We use cookies on this site

If you don't want to accept cookies, you can change your preferences

Accept Manage cookies
  3. Home
  4. About the council
  5. Information governance
  6. Data protection
  7. Privacy notice
Town Hall icon

Youth Offending Service privacy notice

This privacy notice applies to the council’s Youth Offending Service. It explains what personal data (information) we hold about you and how we use it.

Last updated: December 2025 

What this notice is about 

This privacy notice explains how the Youth Offending Service (YOS) collects, uses, and shares personal information about children, young people, and their families.  

Our Youth Offending Service has a legal duty to prevent children and young people from offending or re‑offending. This duty is set out in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which requires local authorities and partner agencies to work together to reduce youth offending. To fulfil this duty, we work with children aged 10–17, their families, and victims of youth crime. Our service is delivered through a partnership of organisations, including the council, police, probation, health services, schools, and others. 

You should also read our Children’s Services privacy notice and main privacy notice, which gives more details about your rights and how to contact us.  

What information we collect, hold and use 

We may collect: 

  • personal details, such as name, date of birth, contact details 
  • family details, including names and contact details of parents or carers, sibling information or household composition 
  • lifestyle and social circumstances, such as home environment, peer or family relationships, risks inside or outside the family home, or other factors affecting wellbeing 
  • financial details 
  • education and employment details, including schools or colleges attended, apprenticeships or work placements, employment status. 

Sometimes we need to use sensitive personal information about you – for example, details about your health, ethnicity, religion, or any criminal offences. We only do this when the law allows it (under UK General Data Protection Regulation Article 9) and for specific reasons, such as keeping you safe or providing our services. 

Where we get your information from  

We get information from: 

  • Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) 
  • secure establishments, such as secure children’s homes, secure training centres, or youth offender institutions 
  • the Youth Custody Service (YCS) 
  • the Police 
  • the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) 
  • the National Probation Service (NPS) 
  • schools, colleges and other education providers 
  • the NHS 
  • HM Courts and Tribunals Service 
  • local and central government 
  • your legal representative 
  • charitable organisations and other organisations you have contact with 

How we use this information 

We use this information to ensure that we meet our legal and statutory duties. 

We may also use your data to: 

  • support children and young people and help prevent offending 
  • reduce the risk of further offending  
  • work with and support victims of youth crime 
  • support young people who are bailed or held by the courts before sentencing 
  • supervise young people on court orders and/or deal with youth cases out of court (sometimes called an ‘out of court disposal’ (OOCD) 
  • help arrange care for a young person held by the courts with the council 
  • help parents and carers through voluntary support 
  • provide targeted support and services to families, children and young people most at risk 
  • meet government requirements for research and statistics (for example, from the Home Office, Public Health or NHS) 
  • explain our decisions and look into complaints 
  • safeguard and protect children, young people and the wider community 
  • create policies and plans, use anonymised data to design new services, and write reports. 

Our legal reasons for processing (using) your data 

Under UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) and the Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA 2025) we use your data because: 

  • it’s our legal obligation (the law says we must) 
  • we are doing something in the public interest or as part of our official duties (public task) 
  • it helps protect your life or safety or someone else’s (vital interests) 
  • in other situations where you give your consent (you say that we can).

Some of the information we collect is considered ‘special category data’ under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). This includes details about your: 

  • physical or mental health 
  • ethnicity or racial background 
  • religious or philosophical beliefs 
  • sexual orientation.

We only use this information where it is necessary and lawful to do so. The legal bases we rely on are: 

  • Article 9(2)(g) UK GDPR – processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest. This is supported by the Data Protection Act 2018, Schedule 1, Part 2, which allows processing for statutory and government purposes, safeguarding of children and individuals at risk, and the administration of justice. 
  • Article 9(2)(h) UK GDPR – processing is necessary for the provision of health or social care. 
  • In limited cases, Article 9(2)(a) – where you have given your explicit consent. 

We also process information about criminal convictions and offences under Article 10 UK GDPR and Part 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018, where it is necessary for the prevention or detection of unlawful acts, safeguarding, or the exercise of statutory functions. 

Other laws that apply to our services 

UK laws say we have to do certain things. For example, we must follow these laws: 

  • Crime and Disorder Act 1998  
  • The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 
  • Offender Management Act 2007 
  • The Education Act 1996 and 2002 
  • Children and Young Persons Act 2008 
  • Children Act 1989, 2004 and 2017  
  • Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 (Code C) 
  • Legal Aid Sentencing & Punishment of Offenders Act, 2012 (amended 2017) 
  • Sex Offences Act 2003 
  • Criminal Justice Acts 2003 and 2015 
  • Working Together 2018 
  • Health & Social Care Act 2012 and 2015 
  • Care Act 2014 
  • Mental Health Act 1983 and 2007 
  • The Education (Information About Individual Pupils) (England) Regulations 2013 
  • Equality Act 2010.

Who we share your information with 

Agencies we might share the information with include: 

  • the Youth Justice Board 
  • Police forces 
  • local and central government 
  • Ombudsmen and regulatory authorities 
  • education providers  
  • National Probation Service  
  • HM Courts and Tribunals Service  
  • healthcare, social and welfare advisers  
  • voluntary and charitable organisations  
  • family, associates and representatives of the person whose personal data we are processing.  

We will share your information with the police or other official bodies if the law says we have to. If we need your permission to share your information, we will ask you and explain why. 

How we store your data 

We keep your information safe in our secure case management system. Only staff who need it can see it.  

To find out how long we keep your data, check our main privacy notice and retention schedule. 

Your rights 

You have rights over your personal data. For more details see our main privacy notice and the page about your individual rights.  

Complaints 

If you are unhappy with how we use your data, please see the council’s main privacy notice to find out how to make a complaint.    

Was this information helpful?



Data protection: We will handle your personal information in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 and in accordance with the council’s Fair Processing Notice.