Shortage of secure accommodation for children sees English councils turn to Scotland
England has a shortage of secure accommodation units for children, a senior judge has said.
Sir James Munby says the problem has led to social services bosses at councils in England trying to place children in their care in secure accommodation units in Scotland.
He says the problem has led him to analyse “cross-border” legal issues.
Sir James, the most senior family court judge in England and Wales, has highlighted the problem in a written analysis of cases involving two children.
He did not identify the two children but said the cases involved Cumbria County Council and Blackpool Borough Council.
“These particular issues arise because of the shortage of places in secure accommodation units in England, so that local authorities and courts in England, particularly in the north of England … look to making use of available places in secure accommodation units in Scotland,” said Sir James, who is president of the Family Division of the High Court and is based in London.
“Precise data are not available, but such material (including anecdotal material) as exists suggests that there have been at least five such cases.”
A number of lower-ranking judges in England have already raised concerns about the shortage of secure accommodation for children.
In the summer of 2014 Judge Sarah Singleton warned of a “terrible national shortage” of places in secure units for dangerous youngsters.
She said there was a “gross shortage of resource” which created a “lack of protection for the public”.
The judge made her comments in a written analysis of a case, involving a 15-year-old boy who had a “terrifying” history of violence, following a family court hearing in Lancaster.
In December 2014 a High Court judge highlighted a “striking” lack of secure accommodation in Birmingham.
Mr Justice Nicol said Birmingham City Council appeared to have no secure accommodation units for children and was dependent on arrangements with other local authorities.
The judge made his comments in a ruling on a legal challenge launched by a teenager at a High Court hearing in London.
A year ago Judge Laura Harris told of her “great concern” about the lack of suitable secure accommodation for a 14-year-old girl who was said to be beyond parental control and at significant risk of harm.
The judge, who analysed the girl’s case at a family court hearing in London, said there appeared to be a “real and ongoing problem” which was putting vulnerable youngsters and members of the public at risk.
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