Key findings Complaints • While 87% of children said they knew how to make a complaint, only 35% of reported that their complaints were dealt with fairly and just 32% said that they were dealt with promptly. Children from black and minority ethnic backgrounds were significantly less likely than white children to report prompt or fair responses to their complaints. Safety • • More than one-third (35%) of children said that they had felt unsafe in their establishment at some point. Overall 13% reported feeling unsafe at the time of the survey. Children from Traveller communities were significantly more likely to report this than non-Traveller children, as were those who had a disability (compared with those without a disability). Bullying and victimisation • • • • Bullying or victimisation by other children was common across the estate, with just under half (48%) saying they had experienced it. Responses from children with disabilities and children from Traveller communities suggested that they were particularly vulnerable to victimisation by their peers. By contrast, children from black and minority ethnic backgrounds were less likely to report certain types of victimisation by other children than their white counterparts. Forty-two per cent of children reported experiencing some sort of victimisation by staff. Children from black and minority ethnic backgrounds were significantly more likely than children from white backgrounds to report being verbally abused or threatened/intimidated by staff. Behaviour management • • • Almost two-thirds (64%) of children said that they had been physically restrained since they had been at their establishment. Nearly three in five (59%) of children reported that they had been separated from their peers as a punishment. Fewer than two in five (38%) of children said that the rewards or incentives for good behaviour encouraged them to behave well, and only one-third (33%) thought that the system was fair. Relationships between staff and children • • Children in STCs reported more positively than children in YOIs in terms of being cared for by staff, being treated with respect, and having staff to turn to if they had a problem. Across the estate, children from black and minority ethnic backgrounds were significantly less likely than white children to report feeling cared for or respected by staff. Preparing to move on • • 12 Almost two-thirds (63%) of children reported that they had a plan setting out their objectives or targets during their sentence. However, only two in five (41%) said that anybody was helping them to prepare for release. Just over a half (56%) of respondents said they would be less likely to offend in the future because of their experiences in custody. Children in Custody 2018–19