Arrests of girls fall by half (From Tivyside Advertiser)
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Arrests of girls fall by half
12:00am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News
Arrests of girls by Dyfed Powys Police have fallen by 50% in three years, figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform have revealed.
Dyfed-Powys officers made 322 arrests of girls aged 17 and younger during 2011 – a drop compared to 2008, when 641 arrests were recorded.
It comes after the Howard League launched a campaign aimed at keeping as many children as possible out of the criminal justice system.
Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “It is encouraging to see that Dyfed-Powys Police are making fewer arrests of girls than they were in 2008, thanks in part to our effective campaigning.
“A significant fall in the number of children entering the justice system is good news for everyone striving to reduce crime and saves the taxpayer untold millions.
“Our evidence shows that the police were arresting girls completely unnecessarily when they were out partying, often with the mistaken intention of protecting them. Now the police are handing out flip-flops and helping the girls home, a much more sensible response.”
