It has launched a national campaign in a bid to stop the deaths, whichaverage two a year. The campaign includes 230,000 information leafletsbeing distributed to the public and a new exhibition featuring thechildren who have died in custody that is currently touring thecountry.
It is also running a national petition, which 10,000 people have alreadysigned, calling for the end of penal custody for children.
Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said:"Prison custody for children is dangerous and inappropriate.
"There is a range of other measures that can be used instead ofcustodial sentences."
The number of children in penal custody has risen from 3,130 in October2004 to 3,423 in September 2005. Twenty-seven of these children havetaken their own lives, one was the victim of a homicide and one boy diedwhile being restrained by staff.
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