Children in police custody cells offered Childline call

Children who are taken into police custody in Glasgow are being offered a call to Childline in a scheme aimed at offering emotional support and reducing the likelihood of reoffending.

Police Scotland said being held in a police cell could be a "frightening" experience for young people who are often vulnerable and have complex needs.

As part of the scheme, under-19s will be given information about the confidential helpline run by children's charity, the NSPCC, and the chance to talk to a counsellor.

It comes as a review of police custody facilities in Glasgow earlier this year raised concerns that several children were held in cells for an "inappropriate" length of time.

More than 3,700 young people aged 12 to18 were taken into police custody across Scotland between April 2024 and March this year.

680 held overnight and 204 held for more than 24 hours.

Last month, a Scottish Police Authority report highlighted a higher frequency of younger people being accused of crimes in recent years.

It said those aged 16, 17 and 18 were most likely to be accused of serious violence while 11 to 15-year-olds committed crimes relating to violence and threatening behaviour.

That younger age group had an increased prevalence for carrying weapons and there had been an increase in the number of young females becoming involved in acts of violence, the report said.

The changing nature of gangs and the exploitation of vulnerable young people was identified as a growing issue.

Supt Mairi MacInnes, from Police Scotland's Criminal Justice Services Division, said children and young people were often at the "point of crisis" when they are detained.

"They are very vulnerable and often have very complex needs, both personally and emotionally which often plays out in their behaviour," she said.

"Clearly being in a custody environment does not help, which is why we work with partners to try and find them support and safe accommodation elsewhere."

The senior officer said young people may feel more comfortable talking to Childline about their problems than police officers.

The scheme follows a 10-week pilot at Glasgow's London Road Police Custody Unit which has been adapted to be a "calmer" environment for young people.

Children were offered books, jigsaw puzzles and soft toys - and the cells have brightly coloured murals on the walls, with posters carrying the Childline helpline number on the ceiling.

Custody Sgt Derek Taggart, who is based at the station, said coming into custody could be a frightening experience for children, particularly if it was their first time.

He said: "We get people from all walks of life and they're all very vulnerable for a number of circumstances.

"Childline are able to bridge that gap that the police cannot.

"It's someone for them to talk to and provide advice because sometimes the police are not always the 'go-to' and it's a confidential call."

Of the 107 young people brought into custody during the pilot, 97% accepted an information leaflet about the service.

It is not known how many contacted the helpline as the service is confidential.

Lauren Burke, Childline team manager in Glasgow, said young people in custody who contact them often say they feel afraid and isolated.

She said: "There could be a number of reasons why a child is in custody.

"It's not always as straight forward as people might think - it could be conflict going on at home, it could be exploitation.

"But what they always say to us is that they feel very alone.

"So we want to provide that emotional support so that they know they are not alone.

"Childline are here 24 hours a day so, at any point that they get taken in, they can call us and just have a chat and take some time to calm down."

She said sometimes children just want someone to talk to, but counsellors can direct them to other services.

The Glasgow project is the first in Scotland and Police Scotland and the NSPCC are hoping to roll it out across the country.

The service was originally launched in Merseyside in 2023 and rolled out across Cheshire the following year.

In March HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMCIS) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) examined three police custody centres in the city and found five occasions where children had been held in cells for longer than deemed necessary.

HMCIS has called for "robust management oversight" from Police Scotland over decisions to detain children in custody.

Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority say police custody is no place for children and young people, but is sometimes necessary when no alternatives are available.

A Police Scotland spokesman said custody suites at London Road and Glasgow Cathcart had been adapted for young people as part of a "trauma informed approach to improve the environment when children are detained."