Number of children locked up in custody expected to double by 2024
A secure school for children in custody has been delayed for three years
Last updated 29th May 2022
The number of children in custody in England and Wales is expected to more than double in just two years, according to Government figures.
A report published by the National Audit Office found that the number of children in young offenders institutes is set to reach two times the current number by September 2024.
In addition, it is expected that over 700 children will be in young offenders institutions by July 2025, up from just 343 in July 2021.
The average number of children in custody in England and Wales had fallen by 73% between 2010-11 and 2020-21 figures, according to the report.
But the court's gradual recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, together with an increased police presence thanks to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is set to bring numbers back up.
Boys made up the vast majority of children in custody, making up 97% of those who are in care. The report, however, stated that many girls who were in custody had some of the most complex needs, and are likely to have suffered physical and sexual victimisation.
As well as this, the number of ethnic minorities being represented was also concerning, with 53% of children in custody coming from an ethnic minority background, up from 32% on previous figures.
The report also found that the average length of custodial sentences for children in England and Wales had increased from 11 months in 2011 to 17 months in 2021.
In 2016, the Government recommended the establishment of so-called 'secure schools' for children in custody, creating a 'therapeutic environment' where children can be educated and rehabilitated before going back into society.
However, the first of two 'secure schools' has since been delayed by three years, being pushed back from its original opening in autumn 2020 to November 2023.
In the report by the National Audit Office, it was revealed that misgivings regarding the initial timescale of the project, combined with changed within the prison system contributed to the delay.
The Government said it hopes that all children in custody can be provided with a space in a 'secure school', but the provider will have the final say in whether they will be accepted.