The academics evaluated the success of a scheme which provides supported housing for children as an alternative to custodial sentences
Date: 6 July 2026
A new report by London Metropolitan University academics suggests that supported housing can reduce reoffending rates among children.
The London Accommodation Pathfinder (LAP) is a pan-London initiative which provides a psychologically informed alternative to custody for 16- and 17-year-old boys.
It is an alternative to custodial sentences, or as part of resettlement from custody, with referrals made via youth justice services.
A new independent evaluation report by London Met academics – Dr James Alexander, Dr Angie Phoenix, and Dr Will Hughes – found promising early evidence that the LAP improves outcomes for children.
Of those included in the reoffending analysis, 26% were later found guilty of another offence – significantly lower than the national reoffending rate for children leaving custody of 62%.
Due to the small number of children involved and limitations in the data, the indicative findings from the evaluation should be treated with caution.
The results also suggested the LAP could produce reductions in arrests, convictions, and court events. It was found to be significantly cheaper per child and was achieved with no reported risks or harm to the public.
The LAP was launched to tackle the unacceptable over-representation of Black and Mixed heritage children on remand and in the youth justice system. It is funded by the Youth Justice Board (YJB), a statutory body with oversight of the entire system.
It focuses heavily on improving mental health, building self-esteem, and developing crucial employability skills, which ultimately contributes to the drastic reduction in reoffending.
Children interviewed for the report said the LAP helped them comply with bail and sentence conditions, and commented that the staff's welcoming attitude made them want to avoid prison.
James Alexander said: “The London Accommodation Pathfinder is more evidence that when children are seen in terms of their potential rather than as a risk, more often than not they will flourish and turn their lives around.
“This report shows there are clearly viable alternatives to youth custody and that for children, prison should always be the last resort.”
James Alexander is an Associate Enterprise Fellow within the Criminology Department.
Angie Phoenix is Course Leader for Criminology and Policing BSc (Hons) and Police Studies, Procedure and Investigation BSc (Hons).
Will Hughs is the course leader for Criminology and Youth Studies BSc (Hons), Criminology MSc, and Organised Crime and Global Security MA.