'Dysfunctional custody system failing girls'

[ArabellaScott]

New report out from HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/media/press-releases/2022/09/dysfunctional-custody-system-failing-girls/

'The national youth custody system is failing to provide very vulnerable girls with the environment and support they need...
At the time of the inspection, there were 14 girls in custody across the whole of England and Wales, all of whom were held in secure children’s homes (SCHs) and Wetherby young offender institution (YOI). Legislation required SCHs to refuse a placement if they felt they could not meet a girl’s needs, which led to a small number of girls with high levels of need being placed in Wetherby YOI, which had the fewest resources to support them.'
...
'The girls held in custody had multiple and complex needs, such as past trauma, self-harm, substance misuse, neurodivergency and mental ill-health, and some were remanded to custody simply because there was no other placement available, either in hospital or the community.'

That's so sad. It seems common that girls get underresourced because they make up comparatively little of the numbers compare to boys.

I know on the other side there have been incidences of teen girls in mental crisis being kept in mixed sex adult wards when detained for mental health reasons which is equally worrying.

Given how few girls are involved, you'd think it wouldn't take all that much to address this problem?

'There were some very concerning outcomes for girls in the area of safety; they were 12 times more likely than boys to self-harm and more likely to be restrained, often in response to self-harm'

What's it going to cost to have a dedicated unit, staffed, that can properly support these girls?

'Typically, girls who ended up in justice settings required a therapeutic environment where past trauma and adverse childhood experiences, including sexual and physical abuse, could be addressed. In many of the cases we reviewed, the girl’s needs were not met because these placements were not available; their behaviour then escalated and they entered the criminal justice system.'

To add a good point: 'Relationships between staff and girls were good at all sites. Every girl we interviewed reported having someone to turn to if they had a problem and we found that most members of staff, particularly those at SCHs, were very knowledgeable about the needs and risks of the children in their care.'

Just think how much additional money could be spent on these vulnerable girls if they redirected all the £££ spent on panels of shadowy "special advisers" plus the organisation & security needed to wedge male born sex offenders into women's prisons? 😑

The thought had crossed my mind, MrsOvertonsWindow.

Shame the same thought hasn't crossed the mind of the captured "Ministry of Justice