08 September 2006
A sharp rise in the child prison population has left councils hard pressed to meet their statutory duties to care for vulnerable child ex-offenders, say town hall leaders.
The Local Government Association was responding to a report by the Howard League for Penal Reform which found 'serious gaps' in the support given to children leaving custody.
Les Lawrence, the LGA spokesman on children and young people, said: 'An explosion in the child prison population over the past decade has placed an intolerable burden on councils in an area where resources are already stretched and difficult decisions need to be made.'
The Howard League's report Chaos, neglect and abuse found that many children entering or leaving youth custody had not been assessed under the 1989 Children's Act.
They had therefore not been identified as in need of support such as housing and counselling once they left custody.
A further confusion stemmed from a lack of awareness by local authorities that their duty of care extended to children in custody.
Even where local authorities were aware of a child's need for support, the help given was often inadequate, the report found.
'A typical response by some social services departments is simply to instruct the child to attend the homeless persons' unit on the day of release from where they will invariably be offered bed and breakfast,' said the report.
'This is potentially a very dangerous practice for all involved.
'The accommodation often caters mostly for single adults, some of whom may not be the most appropriate company for a vulnerable and impressionable teenager.'
The report said that resource limitations could lie behind some of the current failings, but it also suggested deliberate ignorance when it noted: 'This may explain
the reluctance of some children's services departments to recognise a child as in need or “looked after” under the Children Act 1989.'
The LGA has estimated that 4,000 of the 10,000 young offenders who pass through penal custody each year would be better dealt with through community rehabilitation.
These children are not violent, and switching to community rehabilitation would both cut re-offending rates and save around £70m a year, said Lawrence.
He added: 'The law in this area can be incredibly complicated and the LGA will be working with the Howard League and government to clarify the responsibilities of councils.'
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