CAT/OP/GBR/CSPRO/1 74. Several key actions are being taken by the Government to address disproportionality throughout the system and we are working to further strengthen our understanding of how we can ensure that BAME children can be diverted from custody, where appropriate. 75. We are investing £1m in funding to use physical activity and trauma-informed practice to improve outcomes for 11,000 BAME children at risk of entering the criminal justice system. 76. Our ‘Chance to Change’ pilots with police allow low-level offences to be addressed out of court. We understand that BAME defendants are consistently less likely to plead guilty and therefore face more punitive outcomes. This model places less emphasis on admission of guilt and more on the opportunity for diversion. 77. Youth Justice Board (YJB) support is in place to assist with the diversion of overrepresented children through the pathfinder concept. A pathfinder to support BAME children and families impacted by Covid-19 has been developed. Payments totalling £1.4m over 3 years have been allocated to areas such as Newham and Brent with regards to Covid-19 response to provide this support to over-represented children. 78. We are going further to fund Black and Asian specialist voluntary sector organisations. A YJB project is in the process of being developed with around £80,000 youth-specific funding for voluntary and community sector organisations to support children who have experienced trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) resulting from Serious Youth Violence 79. Work is ongoing in several areas with police. We have collaborated with the NPCC to tackle disproportionality in police custody. The YJB is also working on a potential pathfinder project to understand disproportionality in the out-of-court disposal system. This would identify and pilot a process for monitoring of out-of-court disposals within four police forces and make recommendations as to the process for a national approach as well as to develop a national training package specifically Community Resolutions. 80. We are currently reviewing the use of remand for children, with particular attention to the disproportionate representation of BAME children. 81. We have also worked with the Magistrates’ Association to build awareness of disproportionality among sentencers. The YJB has recently held a joint roundtable with the Magistrates Association looking at over-represented children and the development of a Disproportionality Protocol and checklist for magistrates. 82. Within the Youth Custody Service (YCS), work is also taking place: • Bespoke Diversity and Inclusion Plans are in place across the youth secure estate and are monitored for assurance against progress; • Following de-biasing training for key staff, YCS are working with HMPPS to develop a bespoke training package on Diversity and Inclusion that will include cultural intelligence and best practice models; • YCS continues to develop effective practice briefings to help upskill staff – for instance on supporting children and young people with specific personal, cultural or religious needs, and supporting conversations around difference; • The first phase of HMPPS’ Race Action Programme will review existing data, practice and provision and will be taken forward by staff member dedicated to the YCS. 83. Finally, we await the recommendations of the commission on race and ethnic disparities both in the criminal justice space and in its important contribution to upstream areas. We will consider this publication carefully as we shape future work in this space. Northern Ireland 84. Whilst Catholics are not an ethnic minority group, Catholics are minorities in Northern Ireland. The proportion of Catholics within the Youth Justice System in Northern Ireland is higher than the current census breakdown for the 10-17-year-old age group, a trend 14