In December last year, CYP Now requested figures on the levels of self-harm and violence against staff in young offender institutions in England and Wales. But, more than 10 months on, the government department has still not decided whether to release the information.
The delays have now prompted the freedom of information watchdog to set up a case resolution team to try and get the request answered.
Frances Crook, the director of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "The Howard League has encountered similar cases of delays and obstruction with Ministry of Justice freedom of information requests.
"Young people and children are killing themselves while in the care of the state - that is a clear matter of public interest. Why are the government unable to process simple requests for information? It makes you wonder: what have they to hide?"
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