Youth justice: Rainer voices fears over youth custody

Responding to the Youth Justice Boards consultation on sustainable accommodation, the charity said no young people should be remanded in prison just because there is nowhere else for them to go.

If a young person is accused of a crime but refused bail they can be held in the community, often through fostering, or they can be held in a local authority secure childrens home, secure training centre, or young offender institution.

Gemma Buckland, senior policy officer at Rainer, said: Young people should be held somewhere that is appropriate to the level of risk. For some that could mean secure childrens homes, for others the risk may not warrant them going into custody. We are worried that young people are ending up in custody inappropriately when the risk doesnt warrant it.