Addressing Criminalisation of Looked-After Children in Care System

Research and policy initiatives led by Claire Sands focus on representing looked-after children at police stations to end unnecessary criminalisation. The programme aims to mitigate the disproportionate criminalisation, high police call-outs, and formal convictions of children in residential care. By understanding causative factors and communication barriers, research and policy can support criminal lawyers in advocating for better outcomes and safeguarding vulnerable children from exploitation and systemic failures in the care system.

• Criminalisation
• Looked-after children
• Research
• Policy
• Safeguarding

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1. Representing looked-after children at the police station Research and policy Claire Sands, Research and Policy Manager

2. Programme to end the unnecessary criminalisation of children in residential care

3. How can research & policy assist the work of criminal lawyers? Knowing about Levels of criminalisation Causative factors Key issues that might be affecting children Can assist with Communication Representations Support/safeguarding Better outcomes

4. Levels of disproportionality Children in care are disproportionately criminalised, particularly those in residential care There are high levels of police call-outs from some children s homes

5. Levels of formal criminalisation Percentage of children who have been convicted or subject to a caution or conditional youth caution during the year: comparison between children in children's homes, looked after children in other placements types and all children 16 15 14 14 13 13 12 10 10 Percentages 8 6 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Latest placement at 31 March was a children's home All other looked after children All children Data obtained through FoI request to DfE

6. High levels of call-outs from some CHs There are very high levels of police involvement with some CHs in England and Wales In 2018, almost 23,000 calls were made to 26 police forces Data obtained through FoI request to all police forces in England and Wales

7. Issues to be aware of Trauma, abuse and other difficulties Systemic failings in the care system Unacceptable care in the children s homes and unnecessary police involvement Risk of exploitation (CSE and CCE) Feelings of rejection and lack of unconditional care and love

8. Briefings www.howardleague.org

9. Subscribe to our programme blog howardleague.org/criminal-care/