Eight-Year-Old Among Over 22,000 Kids Held Overnight In Police Cells

AN eight-year-old was among over 22,000 kids held overnight in police cells last year. 

New figures show 22,792 children were held overnight by cops, including one for 380 hours (over 15 days). 

The eight-year-old child was held overnight by Gloucestershire Police. 

Holding kids in police cells is supposed to be used as an emergency measure when other secure accommodation is unavailable. 

After being charged children should be either bailed or transferred to council accommodation unless it is impractical to do so. 

Merseyside Police said just three out of 73 children were transferred to council accommodation in June and July 2015. 

Cops have blamed a “lack of alternative accommodation” for the problem while local authorities have claimed they face difficulties finding emergency care. 

Barrister Jennifer Twite, who works with the charity Justice For Kids which campaigns on behalf of youths in the justice system, slammed the treatment of children by police forces. 

She said: "In my eight years of representing children, I have never once known a child to be transferred to overnight accommodation. 

"The number of children held overnight is shocking and unacceptable. 

"Local authorities are under a legal duty to provide overnight accommodation for these children, many of whom are acutely vulnerable and in great distress."

Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, also criticised the findings saying: "The police know cells are not a nursery or a school. They are not an appropriate place for children to be. 

"Police stations are noisy and full of adults - some of whom are drunk and dangerous. 

"The cells are often subterranean and really unpleasant places."

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary stunningly discovered some forces had never known secure accommodation to be made available for children... and had stopped requesting this facility". 

Despite criticism the figures have almost halved since 2011-12 when nearly 42,000 kids were held overnight by cops.