Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Accepted
We are concerned that too many children are being held many miles away from home.
Recommendation
We are concerned that too many children are being held many miles away from home. The number of children in custody has reduced by 73% in the decade to 2021–22 (from 2,040 to 560 children), and we acknowledge that it is very hard to offer enough local provision with such a small cohort. But HMPPS predicts the number of children in custody to double soon, and location is important so children 6 Secure training centres and secure schools can be near to their families and local connections. One ambition for secure schools was to have small, local provision, with children being housed closed to home. The Ministry originally planned to trial one secure school in the South East and one in the North West because of the rates of reoffending in these areas and a lack of provision in the North West. Currently it only has plans for one secure school in the South East. While HMPPS is reviewing where there is demand geographically, it does not have immediate plans to create new establishments to fill gaps in provision, making it harder for children in custody to maintain important family connections. Recommendation: The Ministry / HMPPS should set out how they will provide an appropriate level of properly managed capacity in the system, to ensure that children can be placed in the right type of provision closer to home than is currently possible.
Government Response Summary
The government asserts that the youth estate has sufficient capacity, and the YCS placement guidance already considers placing children in the most appropriate establishment, considering proximity to home where possible.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented The youth custody population (including 18-year-olds in the youth estate) fell substantially from 3,208 in 2007-08 to 855 in 2019-20, driven by changes in police targets and a movement away from imposing custodial sentences on children for minor offences. The population fell to historical lows during the COVID-19 pandemic, standing at 502 in June 2022. Forecasts suggest that it will increase in future years, though there is high uncertainty around forecasting the youth custody population. Given the population has not yet shown signs of increasing as originally predicted, it is unlikely these forecasts will materialise as quickly as previously estimated. The youth estate currently has a maximum capacity of 1,037 places (852 Young Offender Institution places, 80 Secure Training Centre places, 105 Secure Children Home places) and as such, HMPPS considers there will be sufficient capacity across the estate. In the year ending March 2022, data presenting the average distance from home (where home address was recorded) in the children and young people’s secure estate show that 60% were placed less than 50 miles from home. YCS placement guidance states that children will be placed into the most appropriate available establishment to meet their needs, which may not necessarily be the closest to their home area or court catchment, however, this will always be considered where availability allows. The YCS closely monitors the numbers of children and young people in custody and are confident that there will be continued sufficient overall capacity, whilst considering options to ensure the ability to appropriately place all children in line with their needs, as and when the population increases.