Care homes accused of being too quick to call police on children

Vulnerable children are being criminalised over minor incidents despite guidelines

Vulnerable children in care homes across the country are still being taken to court for damaging residential facilities or assaulting care staff, Guardian research shows – a sign the state has failed, according to one prominent MP.

Government guidelines say police should not be used for low-level behaviour management or matters a “reasonable parent” would not call the police about. Prosecutors are not supposed to allow a case to progress unless they have consulted a 10-point checklist, which asks whether the child has apologised and requires the home to explain why it called police.

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from Children | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2POjDwq