David Lammy promises 25% cut in number of children jailed while they await trial

Justice secretary’s white paper will overhaul youth justice rules and could end lifelong criminal records for under-18s

David Lammy has promised to cut the number of children kept in jail while they await trial by a quarter as part of an overhaul of youth justice rules that could also end lifelong criminal records for under-18s.

The justice secretary is publishing a white paper on Monday that he says will reduce the number of children ending up in jail – something he admits was his greatest fear growing up in Tottenham in the 1980s.