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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ban on children held in prisons | Ban on children held in prisons |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The Scottish Government is to scrap laws which allow children under 16 to be held in jail without having been convicted of an offence. | The Scottish Government is to scrap laws which allow children under 16 to be held in jail without having been convicted of an offence. |
| Currently, they can be remanded in custody if their behaviour gives cause for concern. | |
| The practice has been consistently criticised by the prisons inspector and the children's commissioner. | The practice has been consistently criticised by the prisons inspector and the children's commissioner. |
| In future, children issued with an "unruly certificate" will be placed in secure accommodation. | |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said authorities would also be given the option of tagging young people or sending them home. | |
| Currently, a small number of 14 and 15-year-olds are either sent to young offenders' institutions or adult prisons while they are awaiting trial. | Currently, a small number of 14 and 15-year-olds are either sent to young offenders' institutions or adult prisons while they are awaiting trial. |
| Mr MacAskill is proposing that they are allowed to remain in secure accommodation even after their 16th birthday, rather than be automatically transferred to prison. | Mr MacAskill is proposing that they are allowed to remain in secure accommodation even after their 16th birthday, rather than be automatically transferred to prison. |
| Prisons inspector Andrew McLellan welcomed the announcement, claiming that prisons containing hardened criminals were no place for children. | Prisons inspector Andrew McLellan welcomed the announcement, claiming that prisons containing hardened criminals were no place for children. |