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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 workPreventative 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, usually in secure training centres or secure children's homes, for driving or drunk and disorderly offences, for example.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM 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 although children aged 10 and 11 can still only be sentenced to custody for "grave crimes", 12 to 14-year-olds are increasingly being locked up for less serious 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 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 found that if 10 to 14-year-olds were sentenced to custody only for "grave crimes" or violent offences, the number locked up in 2006 would have been cut from 572 to just 104.
That study, Locking up or giving up?, is based mostly on data from 1996-2006.
The report said official figures showed only 7% of the 844 custodial sentences passed on 10 to 14-year-olds last year were for very serious crimes.
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 custodyUnjustifiable 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 executiveIt 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. It also wants 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? Do you have experience of the issues raised in this story?
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