In the year ending March 2019, black children were more than four times more likely to be arrested than white children, and while the total number of under-18s in custody in England and Wales has fallen dramatically since 2010, the proportion of detained young people who are BAME has been rising - topping 50 per cent for the first time last year.
An update report on tackling disparity in the criminal justice system, published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), reveals that work is being done to provide more support through the custody process, amid concerns that BAME young people are more likely to give no comment during interviews, potentially reducing the likelihood of an out-of-court disposal.
The report reveals that the MoJ is monitoring the outcomes of the Metropolitan Police’s pilot of the “Engage Project”, which sees independent youth workers made available at Camden and Islington police stations, to engage young people and identify support needs.
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