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Children of prisoners 'ignored' Children of prisoners 'ignored'
(about 4 hours later)
The charity Barnados has said nine out of 10 local authorities do not give prisoners' children the help they need. The charity Barnardo's has said nine out of 10 local authorities do not give prisoners' children the help they need.
The children's charity has urged the government to do more to protect the 160,000 youngsters estimated to have a mother or father in jail in the UK.The children's charity has urged the government to do more to protect the 160,000 youngsters estimated to have a mother or father in jail in the UK.
They are more likely to develop mental health problems and become offenders themselves, it warned.They are more likely to develop mental health problems and become offenders themselves, it warned.
Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo said there had been improvements but admitted help remained "patchy".Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo said there had been improvements but admitted help remained "patchy".
'Invisible victims''Invisible victims'
She also conceded that the government had been slow to respond to the issue.She also conceded that the government had been slow to respond to the issue.
Barnado's director of policy and research, Ms Julian Walker, told the BBC the number of children with prisoner parents was more than twice the number of children in the care system. Barnardo's director of policy and research, Ms Julian Walker, told the BBC the number of children with prisoner parents was more than twice the number of children in the care system.
I agree that it's dreadful this had gone on and that it wasn't a high enough priority in the past Dawn PrimaroloI agree that it's dreadful this had gone on and that it wasn't a high enough priority in the past Dawn Primarolo
Describing them as "invisible victims" of crime, she said: "It's very worrying that this is a very large number of children... whose needs aren't being addressed.Describing them as "invisible victims" of crime, she said: "It's very worrying that this is a very large number of children... whose needs aren't being addressed.
"There's very clear evidence that if nothing is done to support these children, cycles of offending and deprivation can carry on from one generation to the next.""There's very clear evidence that if nothing is done to support these children, cycles of offending and deprivation can carry on from one generation to the next."
Prisoner support groups also say inmates who stay in touch with their families are up to six times less likely to reoffend.Prisoner support groups also say inmates who stay in touch with their families are up to six times less likely to reoffend.
The charity's report, Every Night You Cry, has called for better identification of affected children and more timely intervention.The charity's report, Every Night You Cry, has called for better identification of affected children and more timely intervention.
It recommends:It recommends:
• Systematic collection of data to identify and support children "at the earliest opportunity".• Systematic collection of data to identify and support children "at the earliest opportunity".
• Measures to ensure courts have information on the impact on children when sentencing defendants; and• Measures to ensure courts have information on the impact on children when sentencing defendants; and
• Guidance to ensure needs are addressed in children's plans• Guidance to ensure needs are addressed in children's plans
Ms Primarolo said: "I agree that it's dreadful this had gone on and that it wasn't a high enough priority in the past.Ms Primarolo said: "I agree that it's dreadful this had gone on and that it wasn't a high enough priority in the past.
"The government's been trying to drive it from central government but what's crucial is the services on the ground supporting the parent and the children through these times.""The government's been trying to drive it from central government but what's crucial is the services on the ground supporting the parent and the children through these times."