'Massive' reduction in Child arrests in Devon and Cornwall
The number of children arrested by Devon and Cornwall police has been cut by nearly 75% in the last five years according to a new report released today.
The report from the Howard League for Penal Reform, a national charity, says that the number of children arrested fell from 5,495 to 1,431 between 2008 and 2013.
The number of arrests fell year-on-year throughout the five year period following a concerted effort by the force to reduce the figure through a range of initiatives.
“I welcome this massive reduction in child arrests in Devon and Cornwall.” said Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg.
“Over the last five years there has been much good work in this regard, and there are clearly major benefits to continuing this trend.
“I spent several years working with disadvantaged young people, and initiatives that keeps children outside the criminal justice system, if at all possible, have to be looked at.”
He added: “There are also positive implications for policing resources.”
The reduction of child arrests by Devon and Cornwall Police has been seen from federations across England and Wales following local work to change arrest procedure and policies as well as to reduce re-offending among young people.
Many of these local initiatives come from working with the Howard League and national campaigning to change arrest policy.
Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “It is encouraging to see that Devon and Cornwall Police are making significantly fewer arrests of children than they were in 2008, thanks in part to our effective campaigning.
“Most police services in England and Wales have developed successful local initiatives that resolve issues quickly and cheaply, involve victims in the justice process and, crucially, avoid criminalising boys and girls.
“A sharp fall in the number of children entering the justice system is good news for everyone striving to reduce crime and saves the taxpayer untold millions.
“The challenge for police now is to maintain this trend. At a time of austerity, further reducing the number of children arrested would free up more officer time to deal with serious crimes.”
Despite the improvements the league say that child arrests are still a major issues as a child was arrested every four minutes in England and Wales in 2013.
Last year, police in England and Wales made 129,274 arrests of children aged 17 and under. These included 1,107 arrests of children who were aged 10 or 11, meaning that on average three primary school-age children were arrested every day.
In addition The Howard League are calling for the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales to be raised to 14, in line with the European average.
Currently children in England and Wales can be arrested by police from the age of 10 despite the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child ruling that an age of criminal responsibility below 12 is unacceptable.
.
Child arrest figures for Devon and Cornwall
2008: 5,495
2009: 4,757
2010: 4,132
2011: 3,363
2012: 2,398
2013: 1,431
