Third of young offenders 'victims of abuse or suicide risk'

One in three young offenders locked up for their crimes is an abuse victim or a suicide risk, government figures reveal. The findings emerged despite demands that vulnerable young people be protected from custody.

At the same time, the total number sent to institutions jumped by 10 per cent in the first three months of this year.

The figures came from the most thorough census of young offenders since the Government introduced the "vulnerable" category four years ago. Ethel Samkange, a director of

the Revolving Doors Agency charity, accused t he Government of putting too much emphasis on punishment.

She said: "Before they come into contact with the justice system, these children are already receiving sporadic support from social services. Putting these vulnerable children in prison will only do more harm than good."

Critics also claim that vulnerable children are put in the charge of staff who may be ill-equipped to support them.

Ms Samkange said: "Over 90 per cent of young people in young offender institutions have mental health problems. The Government won't bring about a desire to change their behaviour unless the underlying issues are dealt with through therapy - not violence, strip searches and solitary confinement."

Official figures show that "special cells" with no furniture, lavatory or windows were used on 154 occasions by 13 juvenile prisons last year. Control and restraint were used 3,615 times on children in prison over a 22-month period.

Juliet Lyons of the Prison Reform Trust said: "Each year a growing number of young people commit suicide in custody. Last year there were 11 deaths in the 18- to 20-year age group. Within two years of release, three quarters will have been reconvicted and 47 per cent will be back in jail."

The Youth Justice Board maintains that all young people held in custody are safeguarded. A spokesman said: "If a vulnerable young person is sentenced or remanded to Prison Service accommodation we issue vulnerability