We know that children with care experience are more likely than their peers to experience police contact and criminalisation, despite no evidence that they commit greater offences than other children. They are also less likely to receive support at the police station from family or a responsible adult which can affect both their experience of police custody and the criminal justice outcome.
In response, Children’s an Young Person’s Centre for Justice and the Scottish Child Law Centre have collaborated to produce ‘Representing care experienced children & young people in police custody: A good practice guide’. This brings together practical advice, research and guidance, aimed at criminal solicitors, practitioners and children and young people. It was created based on a paper from the Howard League for Penal Reform, the Youth Justice Legal Centre, and includes inputs from Youth Just Us and Scottish solicitors.