Page 52 - JUSTICE Tackling Racial Injustice - Children and the Youth Justice System

of the CJS that reiterates that religious views are not in themselves dangerous
and ensures the specific circumstances of each child is taken into account.

Overlooked Groups

2.60 GRT children and BAME girls and young women also face significant
challenges within the YJS. However, we have found that there has been
insufficient focus and a lack of research aimed at understanding and improving
their experiences and outcomes.

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Children

2.61 While GRT people represent approximately 0.1% of the UK population, their
children make up 12% of the population in Secure Training Centres (STCs)
and 7% of the population in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs), including
making up 17% of the Keppel Unit. 159 Concerningly, only 51% of the GRT
boys surveyed in YOIs said it was their first time in custody. 160 Despite the
large numbers, prison inspectors found that there was still a lack of
understanding of GRT people’s needs. 161 For instance, within custody and in
YOIs, GRT boys were far more likely than other boys to be in education or
other purposeful activity. However, this trend was reversed in STCs,
suggesting there are not enough targeted education programmes, outside of
STCs, for GRT children.

2.62 Bias toward GRT children has been apparent in many of the discussions we
have had. One consultee with whom we have spoken to described how they
had been told by a police officer that the police force they work for do not
consider GRT children for diversion as they do not believe they will complete
the course. Worryingly, it appears that such views are prevalent among police
forces. A report by the Traveller Movement highlights how some police

159 The Keppel Unit is a specialist unit, designed for high-dependency individuals to provide a special
level of care and support to them. It is the first unit of its kind. See The Traveller Movement, ‘Sentencing
Gypsy, Traveller and Roma Children’, 2017.

160 The Traveller Movement, ‘Westminster Hall Debate, Outcomes for Gypsies and Travellers in the
youth justice system’, p.1, 2017.
161 HM Inspectorate of Prisons, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales – Annual Report
2017-18, (2018), p. 32.

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