Recommendation 9

Children in custody cover a wide range of demographics, by gender, ethnicity, and disability.20 Girls represented just 3% of children in custody in the ending March 2021, but they are some of the most vulnerable children in the estate, as they are more likely to have experienced victimisation (sexual and physical) and relationship difficulties. HMPPS 9 C&AG’s Report, paras 11, 2.4 10 Q15, Q17; C&AG’s Report, para 2 11 C&AG’s Report, paras 3, 2.17 12 Q9–Q11, Q20 13 Q7–Q9, Q11 14 Q7; C&AG’s Report, para 2.5 15 Q7, Q21; C&AG’s Report, para 1.2 16 Q7 17 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.5, 2.15 18 Q8-Q9 19 C&AG’s Report, para 13 20 Q11, Q56–Q57, Q86; C&AG’s Report, para 9 10 Secure training centres and secure schools opened a specialist unit (the Keppel Unit) at HMYOI Wetherby to accommodate girls at short notice when Rainsbrook STC closed. It continues to place girls in the Keppel Unit while it works to improve provision there, although HMPPS told us that provision is still maturing.21 Furthermore, as the National Audit Office noted in its report, in the year ending March 2021, 53% of children in custody were from ethnic minority groups (on average).22 HMPPS told us that it monitors the profile of children in custody, including data on ethnicity and disability.23 However, it does not have a coherent plan for how to ensure it can meet all of these different needs.24 Strategy for improving provision and meeting an expected increase in demand