Section one Context NPM sub-groups The NPM’s three sub-groups continued to function throughout the year. The Scottish sub-group, which coordinates NPM activities in Scotland, provides support to NPM members, raises the profile of the work of the NPM and improves liaison with the Scottish Government, met twice during the year. It is chaired by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland. The mental health network, which brings together the different members who have a specialist interest in areas relevant to mental health detention in the UK, met twice during the year. This sub-group provides an opportunity for organisations with responsibilities for the monitoring and protection of people in health and social care detention settings to work collaboratively on issues with specific mental health impacts. It was chaired by the Care Quality Commission. The NPM sub-group focused on children and young people in detention, chaired by staff from the Children’s Commissioner for England, continued to serve as a mechanism for NPM members to exchange information and intelligence, and to consider joint work on issues affecting detained children. It met four times during the year. The situation in detention during the year Children in detention The number of children in custody has continued to fall steadily across the UK.4 In England and Wales, the number of arrests of children fell by 13% between March 2014 and March 2015.5 However, NPM members report that children are spending longer in prison and are increasingly vulnerable. Between the years ending March 2010 and March 2015 in England and Wales, incidents of self-harm, use of restraints and assaults all increased substantially relative to the size of the detained population.6 In addition, while the overall custodial population has fallen, the over-representation of black and minority ethnic young people has increased.7 Inspections found four of the five young offender institutions (YOI) in England and Wales were ‘not sufficiently good’ with regards to safety. Though outcomes in areas of respect and resettlement were generally better, outcomes for children generally needed to be improved. Significant concerns were also raised from the inspections of two secure training centres (STC), particularly around staff conduct and safety for children. In contrast, in Scotland members saw impressive progress in the custody of young people on their 4. Custody is meant here as children on remand or sentenced. Ministry of Justice and Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (August 2016) Youth Custody Data, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-custody-data [accessed 01/11/2016]. In Northern Ireland, figures from Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre (the only facility for children in the prison estate) have fallen from 211 in 2012–13 to 163 in 2015–16. In Scotland, the average number of under 18s in custody has decreased by 72% from 223 in 2006 to 62 in 2015: http://www.gov.scot/publications/2015/12/5123 [accessed 01/11/16]. 5. Ministry of Justice and Youth Justice Board for England and Wales ( January 2016) Youth justice annual statistics: 2014 to 2015, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-justice-annual-statistics-2014-to-2015 [accessed 01/11/16]. 6. The number of incidents of self-harm per 100 children detained per month has risen from 5.3 to 7.7; the equivalent increase for use of restraints is 17.6 to 28.2; and for assaults, from 9 to 16.2. Ministry of Justice and Youth Justice Board for England and Wales ( January 2015) Youth justice annual statistics: 2014 to 2015, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/ collections/youth-justice-statistics [accessed 01/11/16]. 7. In the year ending March 2010, 27% of children in custody were from a minority ethnic background; by the year ending March 2016, that proportion had risen to 41%. Ministry of Justice and Youth Justice Board for England and Wales ( January 2015) ibid. 13