Rates of young offenders are dropping - with no clear explanation for what's changed

The recent steady rise in the number of young and serious offenders coincided with the arrival of Covid-19.

But documents released to the Herald show a sudden reversal in the trend - falling one percent in the year to June, and a four percent in the year to July. If it continues, we could be quarter of the way to meeting the Government's target of reducing the number of youth offenders by 15 percent - despite it's proposed measures not yet coming into effect.

Children's Minister Karen Chhour says it's too early to claim success and more work needs to be done.