Children 'left traumatised' by police raids

The Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) said a report into the issue found that an estimated 80,000 children each year experience police home raids when a parent or family member is arrested, but do not receive adequate support afterwards.

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests sent to all 39 English police forces found that only one provided any training that raised awareness of the issues of children being present at arrest.

Forces were also asked to supply details of the risk assessment procedure that is undertaken before a raid on a residential property.

Meanwhile the risk assessment procedures of just two of the 39 forces made any reference to children being in the property, with both of those that did including children in the same category as dogs and animals.

Author of the report, Jo Tilley-Riley, who put it together as part of her fellowship at Clore Social Leadership, a programme for emerging leaders, said: "Each year thousands of children in England experience the trauma of having their home raided and searched, and watching a family member being arrested.

"By ignoring this, we risk casting these children into the strong currents of criminality - making them fear and distrust the police and leaving them scared and angry. But there is a real opportunity for the police to work in partnership to protect these children from unnecessary harm and trauma. And the solutions can be cheap and simple.