Youth diversion orders: Has counter-terrorism finally got the ‘Child First’ memo?

This article examines youth diversion orders, a UK counter-terrorism civil order targeting young people under 22 involved in terrorism-related activity. Through analysis of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 and by situating youth diversion orders within youth justice scholarship, we explore whether this intervention reflects Child First principles and lessons learned from previous youth justice measures. While youth diversion orders offer potential diversion from criminal prosecution, their restrictive conditions could result in criminalisation if breached. We find that youth diversion orders – the United Kingdom’s first youth-focused counter-terrorism legislation – fail to uphold Child First tenets in their attempt to balance child development alongside risk management.