CHILDREN IN PRISON

Early day motion 294, tabled 5 December 2002 by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 41 members.

That this House regrets that the number of children in prison has doubled in a decade to stand at 2,609 in 2002, far more than any other European country; notes that the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed serious concern at the high and increasing numbers of children in custody at earlier ages for lesser offences; further regrets the Government's failure to drop their reservation to article 37(c) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; notes that, in two years 296 chldren sustained injuries following restraint and control in prison; further notes with concern that since 1997, 93 young people have committed suicide while in custody; regrets that many of the children in custody are the casualties of an under-resourced and over-pressured children protection system; believes that custody should be a measure of last resort; welcomes the High Court ruling in favour of the Howard League that the Children Act 1989 applies fully to children in prison and young offender institutions; and calls on the Government to meet its obligations under the UN convention and fully comply with the High Court ruling.

Signatures by party: Labour 20, Liberal Democrat 17, Plaid Cymru 2, Conservative 1, UUP 1.