REDP: Howard League for Penal Reform calls for action on imbalance of black and minority ethnic children in the secure estate

Howard League for Penal Reform calls for action on imbalance of black and minority ethnic children in the secure estate

Summary: The Howard League for Penal Reform has warned that while child custody levels are dropping across England and Wales, black and minority ethnic (BME) children remain disproportionately represented in the secure estate.

Analysis of Youth Justice Board figures by the charity revealed that between January 2006 and August 2010 there was a 30 per cent reduction in the number of white under-18s in custody. But by comparison there was just a nine per cent reduction in the number of BME children in prison.

There has been an overall reduction of 22 per cent in the number of under-18s in custody.

Director of the Howard League for Penal Reform Frances Crook said: "Prison monitoring already shows that restraint is used disproportionately on young black men in prison. We know that black boys are 26 times more likely to be stopped and searched by the police than white boys, and now we know that black children are being kept in prison while their white counterparts are being diverted to more appropriate sentences.

"Black children are already over represented in the criminal justice system and we must address this imbalance."

The number of children in custody has fallen to 2,193 in September 2010 from a peak of 3,175 in October 2002

Source: Children & Young People Now

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Home News About Us Working for REDP Projects Events Resources Equality Matters Equality Legislation Contact Us Staff Area	Howard League for Penal Reform calls for action on imbalance of black and minority ethnic children in the secure estate Summary: The Howard League for Penal Reform has warned that while child custody levels are dropping across England and Wales, black and minority ethnic (BME) children remain disproportionately represented in the secure estate. Analysis of Youth Justice Board figures by the charity revealed that between January 2006 and August 2010 there was a 30 per cent reduction in the number of white under-18s in custody. But by comparison there was just a nine per cent reduction in the number of BME children in prison. There has been an overall reduction of 22 per cent in the number of under-18s in custody. Director of the Howard League for Penal Reform Frances Crook said: "Prison monitoring already shows that restraint is used disproportionately on young black men in prison. We know that black boys are 26 times more likely to be stopped and searched by the police than white boys, and now we know that black children are being kept in prison while their white counterparts are being diverted to more appropriate sentences. "Black children are already over represented in the criminal justice system and we must address this imbalance." 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Howard League for Penal Reform calls for action on imbalance of black and minority ethnic children in the secure estate