Young offenders face postcode lottery over prison sentencing

Statistics released by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) show the number of custodial sentences handed out in relation to the total number of convictions in youth courts in 2008/09. They demonstrate that large variations remain across England and Wales in terms of the proportion of young people being jailed.

The five areas with the highest proportion of custodial sentences to court convictions are Merthyr Tydfil, Southwark, Lambeth, Peter­borough and Brent.

In Merthyr Tydfil, which also had the highest proportion in 2007/08, more than one in five children sentenced at court was given a custodial sentence. By stark contrast, in Newcastle only around one in 60 (1.6 per cent) is sentenced to cust­ody. Nationally, rates went up in 2008/09 to 6.1 per cent, having stood at 5.7 per cent in 2007/08 and 5.9 per cent in 2006/07.

The rates increased in 99 areas between 2007/08 and 2008/09, dropped in 58 areas and remained the same in two.

Campaign group the Prison Reform Trust said the fact the rate of custody increased last year, despite a drop in custody levels, shows too many vulnerable child­ren are ending up in prison.

"That the total number of children coming before the courts has dropped is evidence of the success of the first-time entrants strategy," campaigns officer Rebecca Nadin said. "It is time that custodial sentencing recei­ved the same prioritisation."

Despite the increase, YJB chair Frances Done said progress is being made. She pointed to falling numbers of under-18s in custody as evidence that work to reduce rates is paying off.

Done wrote to chief executives of local authorities at the beginning of 2008 raising the issue of custody rates, writing to them again on the same issue this year.

Lucy Dawes, the YJB’s director of performance, said: " The number of young people sentenced to custody is reducing, thanks to the hard work of a range of agencies and individuals. Achieving reductions is not, however, down to one solution, as the reasons that lead young people to be in custody can be multi-faceted.  

"The YJB is therefore continuing to work across all areas and a range of stakeholders to support them in sustaining reductions."

Areas with highest and lowest custodial rates

Percentage of custodial sentences arising from court convictions of young people in 2008/09

20.2 Merthyr Tydfil
22 custodial sentences, 109 convictions

14.2 Southwark
96 custodial sentences, 677 convictions

12.8 Lambeth
98 custodial sentences, 763 convictions

12.1 Peterborough
52 custodial sentences, 430 convictions 

12 Brent
70 custodial sentences, 583 convictions

1.6 Newcastle
21 custodial sentences, 1,330 convictions

1.6 Northumberland
10 custodial sentences, 628 convictions

1.7 Surrey
22 custodial sentences, 1,315 convictions

1.8 Windsor and Maidenhead
17 custodial sentences, 940 convictions

1.8 Richmond
10 custodial sentences, 569 convictions