The over-representation of young black men in the justice system has been recognised for years, but new figures released in Parliament show the trend is worsening.
Statistics placed in the parliamentary library following a question tabled by shadow justice minister David Burrowes show that the proportion of black and minority ethnic 15- to 17-year-olds in the secure estate is on the increase. In 2004, the group made up one fifth (20.1 per cent) of those sentenced to custody, but by 2008 this had risen to one quarter (24.7 per cent). The proportion of those remanded in custody awaiting trial increased at an even greater rate, from 22.9 per cent in 2004 to 31.6 per cent in 2008.
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