Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2025 to Question 94136, on Anti-social Behaviour and Vandalism: Children, what assessment her Department has made of the specific impact that access to youth services and after‑school clubs has on levels of vandalism and antisocial behaviour among under‑18s in North East Hampshire.

This Government recognises the important role that youth work, early intervention and having a trusted adult plays in young people’s lives.

The Department has not done a specific assessment of the impact that access to youth services and after-school clubs has on levels of vandalism and antisocial behaviour among under-18s in North East Hampshire. However, DCMS research found that Local Authorities which have decreased their investment into youth saw increased incidences of bike theft, shoplifting, possession of weapon offences, and a higher proportion of young offenders who reoffend.

In December 2025, we launched Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’ a 10 year plan to ensure every young person across the country has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them and a community they feel part of. The majority of the funding underpinning the first steps of the Strategy will be available from next the financial year 2026/27. We will share more information as our plans develop.

As part of the strategy, DCMS has committed £70 million over the next three years to support local authorities to rebuild a high-quality offer for young people and create a network of 50 Young Futures Hubs. These hubs will meet three outcomes of increasing opportunities, improving mental health and wellbeing, and reducing crime and antisocial behaviour.