The number of young people arrested in the ACT has dramatically fallen, although the number of Indigenous children under supervision remains a concern, a new government reports says.
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On Thursday, ACT minister for children Rachel Stephen-Smith tabled a report in the legislative assembly detailing recent progress within the territory's youth justice system.
The report showed the number of young people apprehended by ACT Policing has dropped by 39 per cent between 2011 and 2016.
"Since 2011-12, the number of young people coming into contact or further involved with the youth justice system has significantly reduced, and for most of this period we have seen fewer young people in detention," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
"These achievements affirm the blueprint's focus on early intervention, prevention and diversion is sound policy and practice."
The report also showed the number of Indigenous children under supervision within the justice system had fallen from 64 in 2011-12 to 44 in 2015-16, a drop of 31 per cent.
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people have a long history of over-representation in both the youth and adult detention systems in Australia," the report noted.
"While some gains have been made over the past five years in reducing the number and over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in the youth justice system, it continues to be a critical issue in the ACT."
