Intensive Supervision and Surveillance (ISS)
Intensive Supervision and Surveillance (ISS) is the most demanding community-based intervention available for young people in England and Wales. It sits at the top end of the youth justice system—just one step below custody—and is used when the court wants to avoid sending a young person to a secure unit but still needs a very high level of control, structure, and support.
ISS can be imposed either:
- As a standalone requirement within a Youth Rehabilitation Order (YRO)
- As a bail condition while a young person awaits trial or sentencing
What Intensive Supervision and Surveillance is designed to do
ISS has two core aims: to protect the public through tight supervision and to support the young person to change. It is a blend of control and rehabilitation, designed to keep a young person in the community while still managing risk.
Protect the public through tight supervision
The young person is monitored closely, often with:
- Electronic tagging
- Strict curfews
- Daily contact with the Youth Offending Team (YOT)
Support the young person to change
Alongside the restrictions, ISS provides intensive programmes to tackle the causes of offending, including:
- Education or training
- Behaviour work (for example, anger management, substance misuse)
- Mentoring and keyworker support
- Family and welfare support
What Intensive Supervision and Surveillance typically involves
1. Very high contact levels
Young people on ISS usually have up to 25 hours a week of structured activity. This can include:
- Daily check-ins with YOT staff
- Education or training sessions
- Behaviour programmes (for example, anger management, substance misuse)
- Mentoring or keyworker support
- Life skills and positive activities
2. Electronic monitoring
Electronic monitoring (a “tag”) is often used to enforce:
- Curfews
- Exclusion zones
- Monitoring of movement
3. Surveillance
Surveillance can include:
- Unannounced home visits
- Regular phone calls
- Close monitoring of attendance and behaviour
4. Restorative and reparative work
Where appropriate, ISS includes restorative and reparative elements, such as:
- Victim awareness work
- Reparation projects
- Restorative meetings or letters
5. Family and welfare support
ISS recognises that offending often stems from wider issues. Support may include:
- Parenting work
- Family mediation
- Help with housing
- Support around mental health
- Support around exploitation risks
When Intensive Supervision and Surveillance is used
Courts typically impose ISS when:
- The offence is serious enough that custody is being considered
- The young person is assessed as being at high risk of reoffending
- There are concerns about safety, behaviour, or vulnerability
- The court believes the young person could succeed in the community with the right structure
ISS is often described as a “last chance” before custody.
What happens if Intensive Supervision and Surveillance is breached?
Because ISS is so intensive, compliance is taken very seriously. If the young person breaches the order:
- The Youth Offending Team reports the breach to court
- The court may tighten the requirements
- In repeated or serious breaches, the court can impose custody
Why Intensive Supervision and Surveillance matters
ISS is important because it offers a credible alternative to custody and helps keep young people connected to family, education, and their community. It provides structure and boundaries many young people have never had, while tackling the underlying causes of offending.
- Offers a credible alternative to custody
- Keeps young people in the community where appropriate
- Supports engagement with family, education, and positive activities
- Provides clear structure and boundaries
- Reduces the long-term harm associated with custodial sentences
ISS is demanding, but when it works, it can be transformative for young people and their communities.