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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Youth justice system 'in crisis' | Youth justice system 'in crisis' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The number of young people in custody in England and Wales has reached a record high, prompting warnings of a youth justice system "crisis". | The number of young people in custody in England and Wales has reached a record high, prompting warnings of a youth justice system "crisis". |
| The Youth Justice Board, which administers the system, said 3,350 youngsters were being held and action was needed to stop a "meltdown". | The Youth Justice Board, which administers the system, said 3,350 youngsters were being held and action was needed to stop a "meltdown". |
| Only a handful of beds were free, and children were being held hundreds of miles from their families, it said. | Only a handful of beds were free, and children were being held hundreds of miles from their families, it said. |
| The Home Office said the use of custody for those under 18 was a last resort. | The Home Office said the use of custody for those under 18 was a last resort. |
| 'More tagging' | 'More tagging' |
| The Youth Justice Board said the rise in numbers had caused an increased risk of self-harm and suicide by youngsters. | The Youth Justice Board said the rise in numbers had caused an increased risk of self-harm and suicide by youngsters. |
| It meant difficulties in running crime reduction courses aimed at preventing re-offending. | It meant difficulties in running crime reduction courses aimed at preventing re-offending. |
| I fear the system is approaching breaking point Anne OwersChief Inspector of Prisons | I fear the system is approaching breaking point Anne OwersChief Inspector of Prisons |
| It also meant increasing numbers were being forced to share cells and youngsters were being transported around the country. | It also meant increasing numbers were being forced to share cells and youngsters were being transported around the country. |
| Dozens of children and youngsters from London were held as far afield as South Yorkshire and the Scottish borders, said the board. | Dozens of children and youngsters from London were held as far afield as South Yorkshire and the Scottish borders, said the board. |
| This is against rules that young offenders should not be held more than 50 miles from home. | This is against rules that young offenders should not be held more than 50 miles from home. |
| The board called for more use of schemes in which offenders are tagged and closely monitored in the community. | The board called for more use of schemes in which offenders are tagged and closely monitored in the community. |
| Chairman Rod Morgan said: "The youth justice system has just a handful of bed spaces left. We can't simply put up a sign saying 'No Vacancies'. | Chairman Rod Morgan said: "The youth justice system has just a handful of bed spaces left. We can't simply put up a sign saying 'No Vacancies'. |
| "Action is urgently needed to stop custody for young people going into meltdown." | "Action is urgently needed to stop custody for young people going into meltdown." |
| Mental illness fear | Mental illness fear |
| Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers said despite the efforts of staff, "the system is approaching breaking point". | |
| "And I am particularly concerned about the number of young people with mental illness who end up in our prisons because of the lack of adequate provision outside." | |
| Earlier this month a nine-hour riot at a young offenders institution in Shropshire saw an entire wing put out of action. | Earlier this month a nine-hour riot at a young offenders institution in Shropshire saw an entire wing put out of action. |
| Public protection is our priority and we support tough sentences for those judged to be a danger to the public Home Office | |
| David Chater, from the young people's charity Rainer, said there was an alternative to custody called "intensive supervision and surveillance". | David Chater, from the young people's charity Rainer, said there was an alternative to custody called "intensive supervision and surveillance". |
| "Young people are signed up to something like 25 hours a week of education," he said. | "Young people are signed up to something like 25 hours a week of education," he said. |
| "They're monitored the whole time, it's very intensive, so it's not a soft option, and obviously it's far more cost-effective than custody - something like £6,000 for six months, as opposed to £50,000 for a place in a youth offenders' institute." | "They're monitored the whole time, it's very intensive, so it's not a soft option, and obviously it's far more cost-effective than custody - something like £6,000 for six months, as opposed to £50,000 for a place in a youth offenders' institute." |
| Shaun Bailey, a youth worker in London, said young people have no respect for authority and it was up to schools and families to take a firmer responsibility about what's acceptable. | |
| "We need to spend much more time on prevention. We've gone all PC and we've handed too much power to young people," he said. | |
| Prison ships | Prison ships |
| The Home Office said about 190,000 young people were dealt with by the police and courts each year but only 4% received a custodial sentence. | The Home Office said about 190,000 young people were dealt with by the police and courts each year but only 4% received a custodial sentence. |
| However, public protection was its priority and it supported tough sentences for those judged to be a danger to the public, it said. | However, public protection was its priority and it supported tough sentences for those judged to be a danger to the public, it said. |
| A rising adult prison population in England and Wales has recently led to prisoners being held in police cells, while the home secretary announced plans to use prison ships. | A rising adult prison population in England and Wales has recently led to prisoners being held in police cells, while the home secretary announced plans to use prison ships. |