Sharp drop in criminalisation of young people in children's homes
Joe Lepper
Thursday, February 27, 2020
The criminalisation of looked-after children living in children’s homes has dropped by almost 40 per cent since 2014, according to new figures.
Department for Education (DfE) figures show that number of children living in care homes who were convicted, or subject to a final warning or reprimand, has fallen from 610 in 2013/14 to 370 in 2018/19.
This comes amid efforts by organisations in the children’s home sector, councils, campaigners Howard League for Penal Reform and the police as well as local and central government to ensure young people in residential care are not being unfairly handed criminal records.
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The drop in convictions and reprimands also coincides with a 20 per cent rise in the number of children living in a children's home continuously, for at least a year, from 4,050 in 2013/14 to 4,980 in 2018/19.
This means that the proportion of these children who come into contact with the criminal justice system has more than halved, from 15 per cent in 2013/14 to seven per cent in 2018/19.
In recent years the Howard League has highlighted the problem of excessive police call-outs by some children’s homes.
A report from the campaign group last year found that nearly 23,000 calls were made in 2018, with some homes calling police more than 200 times. This was often for minor incidents that would be unlikely to involve police if they happened in a family home, the report states.
As an example of good practice, the report highlights efforts by Durham police to reduce such call-outs by working with children’s homes on criminalisation and safeguarding issues. This includes monitoring issues affecting children in homes and aiming to address issues at an early stage.
Meanwhile, Howard League analysis in 2017 found that children in residential care are at least 13 times more likely to be criminalised than all other children.
“Every child wants and deserves the chance to grow and fulfil their potential. We must do all we can to ensure they are not held back by a criminal record,” said Howard League chief executive Frances Crook.
“Most children in residential care have experienced a range of problems early in life, from acute family stress to abuse and neglect. They need nurture and support, not repeated contact with the police.”
National Police Chiefs' Council lead for children and young people Jo Shiner said: “Within policing we have recognised that we have a crucial role to play in this area, and we were pleased to work with the DFE and the Howard League to produce the National Protocol to reduce the unnecessary criminalisation of children in care.
“This has set the tone for forces to work with local partners to help children’s homes to manage behaviour, which is less serious and doesn’t require a police response, thus leading to a large reduction in children receiving criminal justice outcomes for minor incidents.”
Yvette Stanley, Ofsted national director for social care, added: "‘These findings are really welcome. There’s no doubt that many children in residential care have faced a tough start to their lives. There’s good work being done to prevent these children facing further disadvantage by being unnecessarily criminalised while living in a children’s home. We’ll continue to keep a close eye on this issue in our inspections."
In 2018 the DfE, Home Office and Ministry of Justice launched a national protocol on reducing unnecessary criminalisation of looked-after children and care leavers.