Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

Children in custody are particularly vulnerable and the criminal justice system contributes to an added sense of estrangement and the feeling that there are no other options available. Then we throw our hands up in horror and wonder why so many young people reoffend. I was happy to put my name to Amendment No. 67 because I remember vividly comments made by the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, in a debate in 2006 when he quoted from a publication entitled, Tell Them Not To Forget About Us. Too often, these children are forgotten, falling as they do between two systems. In the report, children expressed a real fear of being forgotten in the midst of the confusion. This amendment would ensure that they should not feel that fear again and would provide the continuity that may, as the noble Baroness, Lady Massey, said, go some considerable way to stop them reoffending.