Figures obtained by CYP Now through freedom of information requests to the Youth Justice Board (YJB), show that last year there were 93 deaths, suicides or attempted suicides among 10to 17-year-olds under youth offending team (YOT) supervision compared to just nine in 2006.
In 2009, a further 19 young offenders were victims of serious offences such as murder, attempted murder, rape, torture or firearms offences, while 98 were charged with committing serious offences themselves.
The YJB attributes the rises in recent years to revised guidance for YOTs published in 2007, which it claims has improved reporting of serious incidents. But it is believed the figures could be the tip of the iceberg as the organisation has conceded that recording systems at YOT level have historically been weak.
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