Child Imprisonment in England and Wales: The Case for Abolition
By Jodie Hodgson
England and Wales imprison more children than any other country in Western Europe despite overwhelming evidence that custody harms rather than helps. The average child custody population in 2023–24 was 430, with nearly half held on remand. These children, often already traumatised, face environments rife with violence, isolation and neglect.
Recent figures reveal a stark picture: incidents of self-harm among children in custody rose by 119% in a year, while assaults between young people and against staff also increased. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (2022) found that in over 60% of reported cases, staff were the perpetrators of sexual abuse in youth custodial institutions. These are not isolated incidents, they are systemic failures.
Institutions like Medway and Rainsbrook Secure Training Centres have closed following revelations of widespread abuse and unsafe conditions. Yet the state continues to invest in new “secure schools”, a rebranding of child prisons rather than a rethink of their necessity.
Reform is no longer enough. True change requires abolition, the closure of all child prisons and investment in community-based alternatives. These must tackle the root causes of criminalisation: poverty, trauma, lack of education, and underfunded mental health services.
Children need care, not cages. Ending child imprisonment isn’t radical, it’s humane.