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Offending rates among children in care investigated Offending rates among children in care investigated
(34 minutes later)
An independent review is being launched to examine why so many children in care in England and Wales end up in the criminal justice system.An independent review is being launched to examine why so many children in care in England and Wales end up in the criminal justice system.
The Prison Reform Trust, which set up the review, says children aged 10 to 17 in care are more than five times more likely to be in trouble than others. The Prison Reform Trust, which set up the review, says children aged 10 to 17 in care are more than five times as likely to be in trouble than others.
The inquiry will look at issues such as how often children change home, and how authorities handle behaviour.The inquiry will look at issues such as how often children change home, and how authorities handle behaviour.
It will be led by former probation officer and social worker Lord Laming.It will be led by former probation officer and social worker Lord Laming.
"It is a huge step for the state to assume the parenting of a child or young person," he said."It is a huge step for the state to assume the parenting of a child or young person," he said.
"With that comes the responsibility to provide stability, security and hope for the future."With that comes the responsibility to provide stability, security and hope for the future.
"Fewer than 1% of children and young people are committed to the care of local authorities, yet a third of boys and 61% of girls in custody are, or have been in care.""Fewer than 1% of children and young people are committed to the care of local authorities, yet a third of boys and 61% of girls in custody are, or have been in care."
'Pretty unsettled''Pretty unsettled'
Children in care aged between 10 and 17 are more than five times more likely than other children to be convicted or subject to a final warning or reprimand, the trust says. While 10-17 year olds in care have a higher chance of being convicted or subject to a final warning or reprimand than other children, the trust says nearly two-thirds of them are in care because they have suffered abuse or neglect.
However, says the trust, nearly two-thirds of these children are in care because they have suffered abuse or neglect, and only 2% are taken into care primarily because of their own socially unacceptable behaviour, according to government figures from 2014. Only 2% are taken into care primarily because of their own socially unacceptable behaviour, according to government figures from 2014.
The trust cited examples of young people's experiences.The trust cited examples of young people's experiences.
One girl with a criminal conviction said: "I was moving round children's homes, I was pretty unsettled, I was starting school, then coming out of school, then home schooled, then finishing home school because I couldn't stay in that placement."One girl with a criminal conviction said: "I was moving round children's homes, I was pretty unsettled, I was starting school, then coming out of school, then home schooled, then finishing home school because I couldn't stay in that placement."
Another young person said: "What I've heard from different police officers when I've been arrested, it's like, 'You're a kid in care, you're never going to get out of this way of life'."Another young person said: "What I've heard from different police officers when I've been arrested, it's like, 'You're a kid in care, you're never going to get out of this way of life'."
'Wasted lives''Wasted lives'
Lord Laming, who has chaired previous inquiries looking at failures to protect at-risk children, including Victoria Climbie, said he wanted to hear from all those who have experience of the care system and the criminal justice system.Lord Laming, who has chaired previous inquiries looking at failures to protect at-risk children, including Victoria Climbie, said he wanted to hear from all those who have experience of the care system and the criminal justice system.
"We cannot stand by and allow wasted opportunities to result in wasted later lives," he said."We cannot stand by and allow wasted opportunities to result in wasted later lives," he said.
"We are determined to ensure this review makes practical recommendations to enable key services to work together to help children in care transform their life chances and stay out of trouble.""We are determined to ensure this review makes practical recommendations to enable key services to work together to help children in care transform their life chances and stay out of trouble."
Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "There is a depressing route from care to custody which can, and must, be stopped.Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "There is a depressing route from care to custody which can, and must, be stopped.
"We need to listen to children in care about how they got drawn into trouble and hear their views on ways to get out of it.""We need to listen to children in care about how they got drawn into trouble and hear their views on ways to get out of it."
The team is expected to report its findings early next year.