There has been longstanding concern about the overrepresentation of care leavers in the criminal justice system and the fact that the behaviours of care experienced children are more likely to come to the attention of the police and to attract a criminalising response. Work completed by the Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice and the Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum over the past two years has highlighted a range of factors which can support good quality, consistent and confident decision-making, toward the aim of ensuring that police contact is avoided unless absolutely necessary.