I lived in a children’s home at 14, and was shocked by how quickly staff had us arrested | Daniel Lavelle

It is shameful that children in care are criminalised for acts that would earn most kids a stern word and a dock in pocket money

I lay there in agony and screamed abuse at the top of my lungs while two care staff had their knees in my back. I guess it was my own fault for throwing that coffee cup across the room.

I was 14, living in a children’s home in Oldham and I had missed my curfew. I had also missed the last bus home, and the staff were annoyed that they had to drive out to collect me. On the journey home they threatened to ground me, have my portable TV removed and take away my pocket money. They told me I would amount to nothing if I didn’t change my behaviour.

This transition from misbehaving child to criminal could have been avoided if care staff were truly acting in loco parentis

Related: Children in handcuffs: a month reporting from youth court

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