Please use the index below to go to a section within this page:
- Once a Reprimand has been received
- Once a Final Warning has been received
- Bailed for Reprimand or Final Warning
- The Purpose of the Reprimand or Final Warning
- Do you have to accept advice or YOT assistance?
- Parents and Carers please note
Reprimand - this is issued for a minor first offence.
Final Warning - this is issued by the police for a second offence, no matter how minor. It is also possible to get a Final Warning if your first offence is too serious for a Reprimand.
If you receive a Final Warning and were then to offend again, no matter how minor the offence is, you would be charged and sent to court.
Anybody between the ages of 10 and 18 years can receive a Reprimand and/or Final Warning.
To receive a Reprimand or Final Warning you must have admitted the offence and shown that you are sorry for the harm you have caused.
1. Once a Reprimand has been received
Your details will automatically be passed to your local Youth Offending Team (YOT) who may contact you and your parents or carers by phone and have a chat about you, your family and the events that led up to the Reprimand.
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2. Once a Final Warning has been received
You and your parents or carers will be contacted by your local YOT and in most cases a home visit will be arranged and may be followed by a visit to the YOT.
The purpose of these visits is to talk to you and your family about your offences and how you might avoid further offending in the future.
We will also talk about the various schemes on offer in the area where you live to see if any suit you. If we feel that you would benefit from taking part in one of these schemes we will refer you.
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3. Bailed for Reprimand or Final Warning
If you have been bailed from the Police Station you will have been given a date and a time to return to a "Restorative Justice Clinic" (RJ Clinic) to receive your Reprimand or Final Warning from a specially trained officer. The purpose of this is to discuss what happened, why it happened and also to find out how you can repair any harm that has been caused.
The RJ Clinic usually takes place at your local Police Station. Your parents or carers will also be expected to attend.
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4. The Purpose of the Reprimand or Final Warning
You have been, or will be given, a Reprimand or Final Warning as an alternative to being sent to court. This is NOT a "Let Off".
Our main concern is to help you NOT to break the law again.
If you do break the law again you will more than likely be sent to the Youth Court. This can lead to you being found guilty and sentenced.
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5. Do you have to accept advice or YOT assistance?
Any activity or assistance offered by the YOT is voluntary BUT take note of the following:-
The YOT have to record what contact they have with any child or young person who has received a Reprimand or Final Warning. This record includes details of any scheme which is offered.
If you do break the law again and are sent to Court, the YOT can tell the Court whether you co-operated when help was offered.
If you ignore the service being offered by the YOT, any future sentence may be more severe.
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6. Parents and Carers please note:
- If your child offends and is sent to Court, the Court HAS to consider placing YOU on a Parenting Order, which can last up to 12 months.
- If your child gets a Conviction it can bar them from certain types of employment.
- PLEASE support and encourage your child to take part in any schemes offered.
- Our main aim is to prevent any further offending by your child.
If you need any advice on topics such as drugs, education or health, please contact the YOT and ask to speak to one of our specialist workers. We can also advise you about parenting support services available in Surrey (see:
How to contact Surrey Youth Justice Service).
