CYP Now - Secure Accommodation: Southwark to sell last London home

Children's campaigners say the Government must provide more support to councils that run secure children's homes after it emerged that the last home in London could shortly be sold to a private provider.

Southwark council is in talks to sell its Orchard Lodge home to the GlenCare Group. The home provides nine welfare beds in an open setting, six secure welfare beds, and 18 secure beds for the Youth Justice Board.

GlenCare director James Phillips said the group would continue to provide beds for youth justice. Tim Bateman, senior policy development officer for crime-reduction charity Nacro, said there was a danger that market-led provision could lead to more homes closing if there were dips in demand for places. "My view is that they should be within public sector control," he added.

Hilton Dawson, Labour MP for Lancaster & Wyre, called on the Government to develop a national network of local authority secure children's homes.

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