'Legal and moral' responsibility for young in care

A major review has been launched to examine why such a high proportion of children in the youth justice system are - or have been - in care.

Less than 1% of children and young people are in the care of local authorities, yet 31% of boys and 61% of girls in custody aged 15 - 18 are, or have been, in care.

“Local Authorities need to understand they not only have a legal responsibility to be a good parent to these young people, they have a moral responsibility also, because this is the one opportunity we have as a society to help these young people turn their lives around,” said Lord Laming, the crossbench peer who chairs the review.

He said it was not just a question of putting a roof over a child’s head.

“It’s about providing the child with security, stability that they may never have experienced and a sense of hope for the future.”