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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/24/lets-not-forget-the-plight-of-children-in-custody
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| Let’s not forget the plight of children in custody | Let’s not forget the plight of children in custody |
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| Your editorial (The problem is caused by drugs and violence inside – and by austerity outside, 21 August) and Polly Toynbee’s opinion column (Prisons are just the start. The justice system is in meltdown, 21 August) throw light on the deep problems facing the criminal justice system, of which prisons are but part. However, in the face of events at HMP Birmingham, it is vital not to ignore the plight of the 883 children incarcerated in the secure estate as of June 2018. | Your editorial (The problem is caused by drugs and violence inside – and by austerity outside, 21 August) and Polly Toynbee’s opinion column (Prisons are just the start. The justice system is in meltdown, 21 August) throw light on the deep problems facing the criminal justice system, of which prisons are but part. However, in the face of events at HMP Birmingham, it is vital not to ignore the plight of the 883 children incarcerated in the secure estate as of June 2018. |
| The majority (73%) were held in young offender institutions. The chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales annual report for 2017-18 reported that 43% of the children interviewed had felt unsafe in their current institution and 19% felt unsafe at the time of inspection. Thirty three per cent reported victimisation by other inmates and 27% by staff. All three secure training centres were inspected: the overall effectiveness and safety were inadequate at two and required improvement at the other. | The majority (73%) were held in young offender institutions. The chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales annual report for 2017-18 reported that 43% of the children interviewed had felt unsafe in their current institution and 19% felt unsafe at the time of inspection. Thirty three per cent reported victimisation by other inmates and 27% by staff. All three secure training centres were inspected: the overall effectiveness and safety were inadequate at two and required improvement at the other. |
| Rates of violence, self-harm and physical restraint are high. Tellingly, 69% of children sentenced to custody reoffend within a year. This is a damning indictment on how England and Wales treats some of its most vulnerable children.Gavin Dingwall, Jessica GallagherSchool of law, De Montfort University | Rates of violence, self-harm and physical restraint are high. Tellingly, 69% of children sentenced to custody reoffend within a year. This is a damning indictment on how England and Wales treats some of its most vulnerable children.Gavin Dingwall, Jessica GallagherSchool of law, De Montfort University |
| • In her rightful litany of egregious cuts to the criminal justice system, Polly Toynbee failed to mention the part privatisation of the probation service. The service has a long and proud history of providing support to offenders to enable rehabilitation. As the prisons minister, Rory Stewart, has intimated, this is not a vote winner but is vital in the prevention of reoffending. Tinkered about with by successive governments, though, the service is on its knees. It’s time for a sea change – we cannot continue locking up more and more offenders, who could be dealt with by community sentences.Susan BeaumontBedford | • In her rightful litany of egregious cuts to the criminal justice system, Polly Toynbee failed to mention the part privatisation of the probation service. The service has a long and proud history of providing support to offenders to enable rehabilitation. As the prisons minister, Rory Stewart, has intimated, this is not a vote winner but is vital in the prevention of reoffending. Tinkered about with by successive governments, though, the service is on its knees. It’s time for a sea change – we cannot continue locking up more and more offenders, who could be dealt with by community sentences.Susan BeaumontBedford |
| • The letter from Deborah Coles, Professor Joe Sims and Professor Steve Tombs on the prison service staff college proposed by Rory Stewart misunderstands the nature of military staff college education and leadership (Letters, 22 August). Regarding the former, the staff college concept is not about instilling iron military discipline, but ensuring that professionals have access to the best intellectual and leadership training available at the right point in their unique careers, while giving them time away from their jobs to allow them to think and reflect. | • The letter from Deborah Coles, Professor Joe Sims and Professor Steve Tombs on the prison service staff college proposed by Rory Stewart misunderstands the nature of military staff college education and leadership (Letters, 22 August). Regarding the former, the staff college concept is not about instilling iron military discipline, but ensuring that professionals have access to the best intellectual and leadership training available at the right point in their unique careers, while giving them time away from their jobs to allow them to think and reflect. |
| The latter is not about coercion and brute force – except where it is necessary on the battlefield. It is about getting the very best from each individual person; junior officers in particular care for their soldiers deeply, and routinely find themselves teaching them to improve their career prospects, ensuring they are fed and housed in dignified conditions and helping to sort out their domestic problems. Thus the motto of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst: “Serve to lead”.David HigginsLondon | The latter is not about coercion and brute force – except where it is necessary on the battlefield. It is about getting the very best from each individual person; junior officers in particular care for their soldiers deeply, and routinely find themselves teaching them to improve their career prospects, ensuring they are fed and housed in dignified conditions and helping to sort out their domestic problems. Thus the motto of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst: “Serve to lead”.David HigginsLondon |
| • As a former chair and member of an independent monitoring board, I think it is at best disingenuous to suggest that the local board is responsible for failure to alert the Ministry of Justice to the appalling state of Birmingham prison and previously Liverpool jail (Failures at private jail are reflection of broader crisis, MoJ is warned, 21 August). | • As a former chair and member of an independent monitoring board, I think it is at best disingenuous to suggest that the local board is responsible for failure to alert the Ministry of Justice to the appalling state of Birmingham prison and previously Liverpool jail (Failures at private jail are reflection of broader crisis, MoJ is warned, 21 August). |
| IMBs have monthly board meetings, close relationships with the governor and senior management, and unfettered access to all prisoners and every part of the jail. Most boards have a sufficient number of members to ensure at least one of them is in the jail on a daily basis. Boards also submit an annual report to the minister. | IMBs have monthly board meetings, close relationships with the governor and senior management, and unfettered access to all prisoners and every part of the jail. Most boards have a sufficient number of members to ensure at least one of them is in the jail on a daily basis. Boards also submit an annual report to the minister. |
| The truth is that the MoJ does not want anyone not connected with the prison system to know of the parlous state of Britain’s prisons.V Mark PhillipsAmbleside, Cumbria | The truth is that the MoJ does not want anyone not connected with the prison system to know of the parlous state of Britain’s prisons.V Mark PhillipsAmbleside, Cumbria |
| • It was a little harsh of Polly Toynbee to describe Rory Stewart as an “semi-amateur politician”. It is not long ago that the complaint was of a Commons full of career politicians with little understanding of life outside the bubble. Those like Stewart who bring experience from a life pre-Westminster should be welcomed for their wider perspective and perhaps a greater ability to represent their constituents.John DickinsonLondon | • It was a little harsh of Polly Toynbee to describe Rory Stewart as an “semi-amateur politician”. It is not long ago that the complaint was of a Commons full of career politicians with little understanding of life outside the bubble. Those like Stewart who bring experience from a life pre-Westminster should be welcomed for their wider perspective and perhaps a greater ability to represent their constituents.John DickinsonLondon |
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