Record proportion of children in detention far from families

Vulnerable children are being placed in custody many miles from their families at record levels, a Guardian investigation has found, prompting warnings that the government is breaking the law.

- Josh Halliday, Jessica Murray

The proportion of young people detained in young offender institutions (YOIs) more than 100 miles from home has doubled over the past decade to 15% - the highest since its peak during the Covid pandemic.

More than one in 10 of the young people in custody in England are being held at least 75 miles from their families, the highest since the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) began publishing the figures in April 2015.

The closure of youth custody centres has resulted in fewer children being held close to their families. Charities and experts say keeping children close to their support networks lessens their likelihood of reoffending.

Only 17% of the 530 young people in custody in England were close to their homes in October, the lowest on record. The vast majority - 80% - are held in violent and poorly run YOIs.

The trend has got worse despite years of official warnings about its damaging impact on children from Ofsted, HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) and parliament's spending watchdog.