More than 100 under-18s were prosecuted in homicide and attempted homicide cases involving joint enterprise last year, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) figures show
CPS data for 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, published last week, showed 538 individuals prosecuted in 188 cases. Three were below the age of 13 years, 100 were 14-17 years, and 211, the biggest cohort, were aged 18-24 years.
Under the doctrine of joint enterprise, also known as secondary liability, an individual can be convicted of homicide if they assist or encourage another person to commit the act, for example, by verbally encouraging them or handing over a weapon.
Campaigners have warned the doctrine is used too widely, leading to wrongful convictions and disproportionately affects Black men.
Baljit Ubhey, CPS director of policy, said: ‘We continue to monitor this work closely.’
