Commenting on the publication of Who’s looking out for children – a joint inspection of Appropriate Adult provision and children in detention after charge, Out of Trouble director Penelope Gibbs said:

“It’s unacceptable that children are being held in police cells for longer than is necessary. Police cells are not appropriate places to park children because suitable local authority accommodation hasn’t been requested or made available. As this report makes clear, many of the children held in police stations could and should have been dealt with differently.

“In addition, the plight of 17 year olds is worrying – whilst government has pledged to address the anomaly that sees them treated as adults for remand purposes, when it comes to access to Appropriate Adults this anomaly has been allowed to continue. We know that many children in trouble with the law are made doubly vulnerable by speech and language difficulties, or have special educational needs which make it difficult for them to understand complex legal processes and language. These difficulties, which can actively disadvantage children in the custody suite, apply equally to 17 year olds as to others.  PACE legislation should be amended at the earliest opportunity.

“The report highlights practical measures that cost little but would make a big difference: completing custody forms correctly, so that staff have access to relevant information about the child; using child-friendly language and encouraging children to disclose vulnerabilities and special needs in a way that does not victimise them; building relationships with staff in children’s services and picking up the phone every time a child is detained; and ensuring that custody suite staff understand the different needs and vulnerabilities of children and the legislation which pertains to them.”

The report, jointly published by HMI Constabulary, HMI Prisons and HMI Probation, can be downloaded from here.