CYP Now - Number of children in custody drops by 73 per cent in a decade

The number of children in custody has dropped by 73 per cent over the past decade, a new report shows.

Despite improving custody numbers, conditions in custody centres have declined, a report says Picture: Becky Nixon

The research by crime and justice specialists Crest says that in 2018 there were 4,208 fewer children in custody than in 2008.

This “historically unprecedented” decline is, in part, due to a drop in first-time entrants to the custody system, the report says.

The decline in children entering the system is “mainly down to changes at the pre-court phase, including the diversionary activity of YOTs (youth offending teams) and the police,” it adds.

A “more child-centred approach” within the youth justice system is hailed as “an important driver of the successes achieved by the youth justice system”.

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