Daily roundup: Youth sport, smartphones, and children's centres

Physical inactivity among 11-to 25-year-olds will cost the UK economy £53.3 billion over their lifetimes, a study has found. Research by sports charity StreetGames and the Centre for Economics and Business Research found that each physically inactive young person costs the UK economy £12,000 over their lifetime as a result of associated health issues and lower life expectancy.

The police watchdog has warned that smartphones give children easy access to violence and pornography, which desensitises them. The Telegraph reports that Tom Winsor, the chief inspector of the constabulary, has said that the exposure can warp their perception of the issues and puts them at risk of becoming criminals.

Almost half of Stoke-on-Trent’s children’s centres require improvements, according to Ofsted. The Stoke Sentinel reports that seven of the city’s centres received the critical judgment following inspections between November last year and January. 

The number of children taken into care in Burnley has almost trebled in two years. The Lancashire Telegraph reports that last year 134 children were taken into care by the authority, compared to 54 in 2011. The children’s services department is analysing data to identify the reasons behind the sharp rise.

Health inequalities in Scotland remain "stubbornly persistent", a report by the British Medical Association has found. The BBC reports that the organisation has called for action to be taken to reduce the health gap between those living in rich and poor areas. It highlighted the importance of employment, education, welfare and housing policies in improving health.

A nursery manager has been charged with child cruelty following an investigation at Abacus Day Nursery in Billericay. The Brentwood Gazette reports that 49-year-old Emma Panting has also been charged with two counts of common assault and one count of racially aggravated public order offence.