This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33221247
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Offending rates among children in care investigated | Offending rates among children in care investigated |
| (35 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 as 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' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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'." |
| And Russell, who was taken into care as a teenager and has spent time in a young offenders institution told the BBC: "If I'd had the support around me when I was younger, I would have stayed as smart and sweet and innocent - but it was the fact that I've built myself up with so much anger. I'm not used to anyone supporting me." | And Russell, who was taken into care as a teenager and has spent time in a young offenders institution told the BBC: "If I'd had the support around me when I was younger, I would have stayed as smart and sweet and innocent - but it was the fact that I've built myself up with so much anger. I'm not used to anyone supporting me." |
| 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." |
| Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Lord Laming said: "When they come into care, this is our one opportunity to help them turn their lives around and if we fail in that, they almost certainly will drift into crime and a life of criminality which is not good for them and not good for society." | |
| The state has a "moral responsibility" to be a "really good parent" to young children in its care, he added. | The state has a "moral responsibility" to be a "really good parent" to young children in its care, he added. |
| 'Depressing route' | |
| An NSPCC spokesman said: "The fact that the majority of children in care have suffered abuse or neglect means they need extra help to rebuild their lives and they must not be written off by society. | An NSPCC spokesman said: "The fact that the majority of children in care have suffered abuse or neglect means they need extra help to rebuild their lives and they must not be written off by society. |
| "Being a victim of abuse is not an excuse for criminal behaviour but nor should the care system be a stepping stone to a life behind bars." | "Being a victim of abuse is not an excuse for criminal behaviour but nor should the care system be a stepping stone to a life behind bars." |
| Darren Coyne, projects and development worker at the Care Leavers' Association, said it should be remembered that the majority of people in care do not go on to offend. | |
| He said it was often those who had fallen "through the gaps" that ended up in the criminal justice system and that "positive role models" were needed. | |
| Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said often young people find themselves getting "involved with the law for committing apparent offences in children's homes that if they were home with mum and dad, wouldn't be classed as an offence". | |
| Those who have suffered abuse, neglect or trauma may "present with some challenging behaviour", but that "if it's reacted to with the criminal justice system, that's the wrong approach", he added. | |
| 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. | The team is expected to report its findings early next year. |