Number of young people held far from home increases

Statistics released in Parliament yesterday reveal that in June last year there were 173 15-year-olds serving sentences in the secure estate more than 50 miles from their home.

This compares to 154 in June 2004, a rise of 12 per cent, but is less than the 2005 figure of 206.

It was also revealed that on 20 February this year the average distance from home for a 15-year-old was 45.2 miles.

The Youth Justice Board aims to hold 90 per cent of juveniles within 50 miles of their home.

The latest figures follow separate statistics for the age range 15-17, published last month.

These showed that 46 per cent of 15-year-olds and 41 per cent of 16- and 17-year-olds in custody are locked up more than 50 miles from home.

Thomasin Pritchard, policy officer at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "It has been shown in research over the years that being close to your family gives you a support network and helps enormously in terms of rehabilitation and reducing offending."