Police Custody: Rights of Minors

Opened the debate

Janet Daby raised concerns about the protection of minors in police custody, citing a specific case involving Jayden, a 15-year-old from her constituency. She highlighted issues such as excessive detention times, lack of appropriate adult presence, and inadequate safeguards under current laws like the Children Act 2004 and Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). Daby called for reforms to halve custody duration for minors to 12 hours, improve training for custody officers on racial disparities and mental health issues, and adopt educational videos by Dr Miranda Bevans for appropriate adults. She also emphasised the need for greater funding for conduit organisations to bridge gaps between ethnic communities and the police.

Government Response

The Minister acknowledged the importance of protecting minors in custody but did not directly address the specifics of Janet Daby's case due to ongoing complaints procedures. She emphasised that police must use detention powers judiciously and within legal limits as per PACE, which includes a limit of 24 hours for detentions (extendable under certain circumstances). The Minister highlighted improvements in diversity within the police force, including increased numbers of minority ethnic officers and training on bias and equalities. She also mentioned ongoing research to examine PACE's impact on minor detention and questioned the merits of a more child-centred approach. The response concluded with a commitment to ensuring that custody suites are safe places for everyone, including minors.