In response to Labour MP David Lammy's review of the over-representation of BAME people in the criminal justice system, the MoJ said it is already in talks with the London Mayor's Office about a trial in the capital.
The idea would see young people offered the opportunity to undertake an intervention, such as drug treatment, prior to the point of criminal prosecution. If the young person complied with the requirements, the charges would be dropped. However, prosecution could be pursued if the requirements are not met.
In its response to Lammy's review, the MoJ said so-called "deferred prosecutions" could play a role in youth justice since it aligns with the government's goal of keeping young people out of the formal justice system whenever possible.
A trial of the idea, which was run under the name Operation Turning Point in the West Midlands between 2011 and 2014, cut reoffending by 35 per cent compared with defendants prosecuted in the normal way.
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