This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7628565.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Child custody numbers 'too high' | Child custody numbers 'too high' |
(40 minutes later) | |
More children are being locked up in England and Wales, according to the charity Barnardo's. | More children are being locked up in England and Wales, according to the charity Barnardo's. |
There has been a five-fold surge in the use of custody for 10 to 14-year-olds from 1996-2006, said the charity. | There has been a five-fold surge in the use of custody for 10 to 14-year-olds from 1996-2006, said the charity. |
This is despite no significant increase in serious crime. Barnardo's is calling for sentencing policy to be overhauled. | This is despite no significant increase in serious crime. Barnardo's is calling for sentencing policy to be overhauled. |
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said just three in 100 young people convicted of offences receive custodial sentences. | The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said just three in 100 young people convicted of offences receive custodial sentences. |
A spokesman added that custodial sentences for under 14s were a last resort. | A spokesman added that custodial sentences for under 14s were a last resort. |
Preventative work | Preventative work |
Before 1994, under 15s in England and Wales could be sentenced to custody only if they had committed serious or violent offences such as rape, assault or burglary. | Before 1994, under 15s in England and Wales could be sentenced to custody only if they had committed serious or violent offences such as rape, assault or burglary. |
But successive legal changes have made it easier for children to be locked up, in secure units or secure local authority-run homes, for driving or drunk and disorderly offences, for example. | But successive legal changes have made it easier for children to be locked up, in secure units or secure local authority-run homes, for driving or drunk and disorderly offences, for example. |
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
They can also be given custodial sentences for breaching behavioural orders. | They can also be given custodial sentences for breaching behavioural orders. |
Barnardo's said the 550% rise in the use of custody for children had created an "expensive and ineffective" criminal justice strategy, and had resulted in children "being written off" by the age of 12. | Barnardo's said the 550% rise in the use of custody for children had created an "expensive and ineffective" criminal justice strategy, and had resulted in children "being written off" by the age of 12. |
Its study into child custody, Locking up or giving up?, based on data from 1996-2006, found only 7% of the 572 custodial sentences given to 10 to 14-year-olds in 2006 were for "grave" or "violent" offences. | Its study into child custody, Locking up or giving up?, based on data from 1996-2006, found only 7% of the 572 custodial sentences given to 10 to 14-year-olds in 2006 were for "grave" or "violent" offences. |
The charity says the number of children and young people imprisoned in England and Wales is the third highest in Europe, behind only the Russian Federation and the Ukraine. | The charity says the number of children and young people imprisoned in England and Wales is the third highest in Europe, behind only the Russian Federation and the Ukraine. |
According to the report, holding a child in custody for a year can cost as much as £185,780 - the same as six years' schooling at Eton College. | According to the report, holding a child in custody for a year can cost as much as £185,780 - the same as six years' schooling at Eton College. |
Barnardo's said 80% of children in custody had been excluded from school and locking them up was ineffective - 78% of 10 to 14-year-olds will re-offend within 12 months of being released. | Barnardo's said 80% of children in custody had been excluded from school and locking them up was ineffective - 78% of 10 to 14-year-olds will re-offend within 12 months of being released. |
Unjustifiable custody | Unjustifiable custody |
Martin Narey, Barnardo's chief executive, and former director general of the Prison Service, called for a "drastic reduction" in the use of custody for very young children. | Martin Narey, Barnardo's chief executive, and former director general of the Prison Service, called for a "drastic reduction" in the use of custody for very young children. |
It is often the most vulnerable young people in society who end up in the criminal justice system Martin Narey Barnardo's chief executive | It is often the most vulnerable young people in society who end up in the criminal justice system Martin Narey Barnardo's chief executive |
"Barnardo's are not naive: we recognise that children committing grave crimes need to be incarcerated," he said. | "Barnardo's are not naive: we recognise that children committing grave crimes need to be incarcerated," he said. |
"But the explosion in the use of custody for very young children when youth offending has not been growing is inexplicable, unjustifiable and unnecessary. | "But the explosion in the use of custody for very young children when youth offending has not been growing is inexplicable, unjustifiable and unnecessary. |
"It is often the most vulnerable young people in society who end up in the criminal justice system, and despite this only 5% of the £445m spent by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) was invested in preventative work." | "It is often the most vulnerable young people in society who end up in the criminal justice system, and despite this only 5% of the £445m spent by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) was invested in preventative work." |
Barnardo's wants a change in sentencing thresholds so that a child under 15 cannot be sent to custody unless they have committed grave or violent crimes. It claims this would save the government £27.5 million a year. | Barnardo's wants a change in sentencing thresholds so that a child under 15 cannot be sent to custody unless they have committed grave or violent crimes. It claims this would save the government £27.5 million a year. |
They also want local authorities to carry the full costs for those children sentenced to custody. | They also want local authorities to carry the full costs for those children sentenced to custody. |
It says there is currently a strong disincentive for councils to invest in preventative services because the YJB meets the costs of custodial sentences. | It says there is currently a strong disincentive for councils to invest in preventative services because the YJB meets the costs of custodial sentences. |
Mr Narey is set to debate the issue with the Justice Secretary Jack Straw at the Labour Conference in Manchester. | Mr Narey is set to debate the issue with the Justice Secretary Jack Straw at the Labour Conference in Manchester. |
What do you think of the number of children being locked-up? Have you been in youth custody? | |
Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124. | Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124. |
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |