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Youth justice system 'in crisis' Youth justice system 'in crisis'
(about 2 hours 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 at young offenders' institutes had caused an increased risk of self-harm and suicide by youngsters.The Youth Justice Board said the rise in numbers at young offenders' institutes 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 The likely consequence in the long term is to create more adult career criminals Rod MorganYouth Justice Board
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. It is against the rules for young offenders to 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. However, dozens of children and youngsters from London were held as far afield as South Yorkshire and the Scottish borders, said the board.
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'. 'Career criminals'
"Action is urgently needed to stop custody for young people going into meltdown." Chairman Rod Morgan said action was urgently needed to stop custody for young people going into "meltdown".
Mental illness fear "Locking up more children is the equivalent for penal policy of building more coal fired power stations for global warming," he said.
Chief Inspector of Prisons Anne Owers said despite the efforts of staff, "the system is approaching breaking point". "The likely consequence in the long term is to create more adult career criminals."
"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." The proportion of young people committing crime had fallen, he said, but more were being locked up, partly because of police targets on the number of offences brought to justice.
Earlier this month a nine-hour riot at a young offenders institution in Shropshire saw an entire wing put out of action. Custody is usually a last resort
Martin Narey, chief executive of Barnardos and former director general of the Prison Service, said locking people up had become a media "obsession".
Although custody could sometimes be constructive in getting a child educated and off drugs, "in the sort of numbers the Youth Justice Board are having to lock up at the moment it is almost always a destructive experience," he said.
"So young children are coming into custody, staying a few weeks, sometimes far from home, losing contact with the home, losing jobs, losing tenancies and coming out more likely to be criminal than before."
But former prisons minister, Ann Widdecombe, warned the anti-social nature of young people was a major source of worry.
Public protection is our priority and we support tough sentences for those judged to be a danger to the public Home OfficePublic 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". Earlier this month a nine-hour riot at a young offenders institution in Shropshire saw an entire wing put out of action.
"Young people are signed up to something like 25 hours a week of education," he said. People working with young people said there were more effective alternatives to custody.
"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." David Chater from the young people's charity Rainer said "intensive supervision and surveillance", which consisted of 25 hours a week of education, was much better value for money.
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. And 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
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.