Daily roundup 25 August: Kids Company, police cells, and library cards

Children's charity Kids Company had just £250,000 left when it closed despite having received £3m from government the previous week. The Express reports papers filed by trustees of the charity at the High Court ahead of it being wound up have raised questions over what happened to the grant.


More than 160 under-18s were held in police custody in the space of a year after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act because there were no beds in special units or hospitals. The Times reports the National Police Chiefs Council figures have now prompted calls for more mental health facilities in hospitals and other NHS services.


All children in Scotland could automatically become library members in a bid to promote literacy. The BBC reports pilot schemes are being developed in every council area to enrol children during their early years.


Free schools in England received 60 per cent more funding per pupil compared with local authority primary and secondary schools during the last financial year. The Guardian reports an average amount of £7,761 in state funding was given to free schools in 2013/14 compared with £4,767 for local authority schools.


Northamptonshire Police is investigating an incident that appears to show a male officer punching a 17-year-old autistic boy. ITV News reports the boy’s family are now consulting with lawyers. The force said it takes such allegations “extremely seriously”.


Almost £29,000 in compensation has been paid out to children who have been injured in Wolverhampton schools. The Express & Star reports that a total of 71 children from primary, secondary, infant and junior schools have made claims since September 2009, with six being successful.