This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/17/britain-is-failing-young-people-in-custody
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Britain is failing young people in custody | Britain is failing young people in custody |
| (5 months later) | |
| Letters | |
| Thu 17 Aug 2017 19.17 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 18.22 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| Inquest’s work with bereaved families has consistently revealed a litany of systemic neglect, violence, institutional complacency and short-sighted policies which contribute to the deaths and harm of children and young people (Report on Northants children’s prison finds rise in violent incidents, 9 August). | Inquest’s work with bereaved families has consistently revealed a litany of systemic neglect, violence, institutional complacency and short-sighted policies which contribute to the deaths and harm of children and young people (Report on Northants children’s prison finds rise in violent incidents, 9 August). |
| These deaths are the most extreme outcome of a system that fails some of society’s most disadvantaged children and young people. Ten years ago, in July 2007, the judge at the inquest into the death in 2004 of 15-year-old Gareth Myatt, asphyxiated as a result of being restrained by three officers at Rainsbrook, delivered a damning indictment of the treatment of young people in custody, and wrote a 17-page letter to the then secretary of state for justice and lord chancellor saying that it would be “wholly unforgivable and a double tragedy” if there was any delay in learning from and acting upon the lessons of Gareth’s death. | These deaths are the most extreme outcome of a system that fails some of society’s most disadvantaged children and young people. Ten years ago, in July 2007, the judge at the inquest into the death in 2004 of 15-year-old Gareth Myatt, asphyxiated as a result of being restrained by three officers at Rainsbrook, delivered a damning indictment of the treatment of young people in custody, and wrote a 17-page letter to the then secretary of state for justice and lord chancellor saying that it would be “wholly unforgivable and a double tragedy” if there was any delay in learning from and acting upon the lessons of Gareth’s death. |
| That high levels of restraint and force continue, and that systems to safeguard children are not in place, shows that lessons have not been acted upon and these institutions are incapable of reform. The chief inspector of prisons recently conceded that no young person is safe in British custody. We agree. This consistent neglect of young people in state custody represents nothing less than state-sanctioned child abuse. It must end. It is time for “secure training centres”, including Rainsbrook, to be closed and reinvestment in community-based child focused therapeutic alternatives.Deborah Coles, Prof Joe Sim and Prof Steve Tombs Inquest | That high levels of restraint and force continue, and that systems to safeguard children are not in place, shows that lessons have not been acted upon and these institutions are incapable of reform. The chief inspector of prisons recently conceded that no young person is safe in British custody. We agree. This consistent neglect of young people in state custody represents nothing less than state-sanctioned child abuse. It must end. It is time for “secure training centres”, including Rainsbrook, to be closed and reinvestment in community-based child focused therapeutic alternatives.Deborah Coles, Prof Joe Sim and Prof Steve Tombs Inquest |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| Youth justice | |
| Young people | |
| UK criminal justice | |
| letters | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |