West Mercia and Warwickshire Police 'held 36 children overnight'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-32804217

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Two police forces "inappropriately" held 36 children overnight in cells, an inspection has found.

Warwickshire and West Mercia, which share custody operations, were reviewed in October by the Inspectorate of Prisons and Constabulary.

The inspection found the number of children being held was "relatively high" and called on the authorities to review the situation immediately.

The forces said they took the findings "extremely seriously".

'Very vulnerable'

The inspectors said the children had been held overnight in the 12 months prior to the inspection.

Unannounced visits took place in Worcester, Telford, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Kidderminster, Leamington Spa and Nuneaton.

The inspectors said: "We saw two children detained for over 24 hours at Worcester who were given little attention and nothing to help them occupy the time.

"We were concerned about one case, in particular, involving a 14-year-old boy where the initial risk assessment showed he was at an increased risk of harming himself and was very vulnerable.

"He had very recently self-harmed through cutting and attempted hanging but was placed on 15-minute, rather than constant observation and went on to self-harm in his cell."

The inspectors said police staff had tried to arrange alternative accommodation for the children but local authorities had been unable to help.

"Local authorities were requested to provide alternative accommodation, with arrangements only being made for three children - this was poor and resulted in 36 children being detained inappropriately overnight," the inspectors said.

They said police commissioners and local authorities should "immediately" review accommodation for young people "to ensure children are not detained unnecessarily in police cells".

In a joint statement the police forces said: "We are working with local authorities, as well as looking at additional options, to ensure better provision of the right level of care and services for children and vulnerable adults.

"We have already acted to resolve many of the issues raised through this inspection."