Safety in the Children and Young People Secure Estate: Update to September 2021
Published 27 January 2022
Applies to England and Wales
© Crown copyright 2022
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-the-children-and-young-people-secure-estate-update-to-september-2021/safety-in-the-children-and-young-people-secure-estate-update-to-september-2021
Main Points
| 544 assault incidents Jul to Sep 2021, of which 29 were serious 373 different children and young people involved as assailants or fighters |
The annualised rate of assault incidents per 100 children and young people per year was 400 in the 3 months July to September 2021, an increase of 38% compared to the same period last year. The number of individual children and young people involved in incidents as assailants or fighters increased 3% in the 3 months July to September 2021 compared to the same period last year, from 363 to 373. |
| 283 assault incidents on staff Jul to Sep 2021, of which 15 were serious | The annualised rate of assault incidents on staff per 100 children and young people per year was 208 in the 3 months July to September 2021, an increase of 47% compared to the same period last year. |
| 379 self-harm incidents Jul to Sep 2021 97 different children and young people self-harmed Jul to Sep 2021 |
The annualised rate of self-harm incidents per 100 children and young people per year was 279 in the 3 months July to September 2021, an increase of 5% compared to the same period last year. The number of individual children and young people self-harming increased 20% in the 3 months July to September 2021 compared to the same period last year, from 81 to 97. |
| No deaths reported in the year to 30 Sep 2021 | The last death in the Children and Young People Secure Estate was in June 2019 |
The Safety in the Children and Young People Secure Estate Bulletin reports assault and self-harm incidents and deaths from April 2014 to September 2021. The information covers the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, which must be considered and accounted for in every aspect of the information presented and when comparing time periods.
1. Statistician’s Comment
These experimental statistics present data up until 30 September 2021 on incidents of assault, self-harm and death across each sector of the Children and Young People Secure Estate (CYPSE). From the outset of the pandemic the Youth Custody Service’s focus has been on meeting the needs of the children in custody and following physical distancing approaches. Inevitably by following the guidance to manage the spread of COVID-19 there has been an impact to activities delivered from March 2020. With less mixing of children and young people there was naturally a fall in the number of assaults. As activity restrictions started to lift and children mixed more, we saw an increase in the number of assaults.
Throughout these experimental statistics the latest reporting quarter is compared to the same period last year.
The CYPSE has seen an increase across all sectors in the rate of assault in comparison to the same period last year. Secure Training Centres (STC) continue to have the highest rate of incidents of assaults when compared to the other sectors. The STCs rate of assault was 1,101 per 100 CYP per year for the 3 months to 30 September 2021 (July to September), this is an increase of 100% in comparison to the same period last year. Youth Offender Institutions (YOI) hold the majority of the Children in the Young People Secure Estate population, and had the lowest rate of assault incidents in the 3 months to 30 September 2021 at 297 per 100 CYP per year, this was a 27% increase in comparison to the same period last year. Secure Children’s Homes (SCH) hold the younger and often most complex Children and Young People within the CYPSE and for the 3 months up to 30 September 2021 the rate of assault incidents was 466 per 100 CYP per year, which amounts to a 41% increase in comparison to the same period last year.
It is shown that the following groups have a higher rate of involvement in assaults, as an assailant or fighter; females, 10 – 16 year olds, in particular 15 year olds, black ethnic groups, and children with Christian religious beliefs or no religious belief.
There has been an increase in the rate of self-harm in comparison to the same period last year. The rate of self-harm differs across the three sectors and is typically influenced by a few individuals self-harming multiple times. The highest rates for this reporting period were recorded at STCs at 692 per 100 CYP per year, this is a 14% reduction in comparison to the previous year. The SCHs also had a decrease in self-harm; over the reporting quarter the rate of self-harm incidents was 414 per 100 CYP per year, with a decrease of 35% in comparison to the same period in 2020. There was an increase of self-harm incidents at YOIs; the rate of self-harm was 200 per 100 CYP per year, up 71%. Whilst YOIs are the only sector to show an increase of self-harm when comparing to the same period last year, the rate of self-harm is substantially lower than the other two sectors.
It is shown that the following groups have a high rate of self-harm: females, younger age groups (particularly 15 year olds), White ethnic groups, children of other region and Muslim.
No deaths of Children and Young People have been reported since June 2019.
2. Assaults: April 2014 to September 2021
Assault incident rate increased compared to same period last year.
In the 3 months to July to September 2021, there were 544 assault incidents in the Children and Young People Secure Estate (CYPSE) involving 373 different children and young people (CYP) as assailants or fighters. The annualised rate of assault incidents was 400 per 100 CYP per year, an increase of 38% compared to the same period in 2020 when the rate was 290.
Assault incidents on staff rate increased compared to same period last year
In the 3 months July to September 2021, there were 283 incidents in the CYPSE where staff were assaulted. The annualised rate of assault incidents on staff was 208 per 100 CYP per year, an increase of 47% compared to the same period in 2020 when the rate was 142 per 100 CYP per year.
| Figure 1: Rate of assaults and fights by quarter - Apr 2014 to Mar 2018 | Figure 2: Rate of assault incidents per 100 CYP per year Apr 2019 to Sep 2021 |
The definition and counting rules of assaults changed from April 2019 (April 2018 for Young Offender Institutions (YOI)) and hence no long-term trends are available and there was no estate-wide figure in 2018/19. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the trends before and after the break respectively.
The rate of assault incidents fell substantially at the outset the Covid-19 pandemic. In the last full quarter prior to the pandemic, the 3 months to 31 December 2019 (October to December), the assault rate per 100 CYP per year was 466. During the 3 months to 30 June 2020 incidents fell to their lowest since the current assaults’ definition was introduced, down to 204 per 100 CYP per year. Following this there were quarter on quarter increases until the 3 months to 30 June 2021 where the rate of assault incidents was 464 per 100 CYP per year, just below the level recorded in the last full quarter prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 3 months to 31 December 2019. For the most recent quarter, the 3 months to 30 September 2021, the rate of assault is 400 per 100 CYP which is down from the previous 3 months to 30 June 2021 but a 38% increase in comparison to the same period last year, the 3 months to 30 September 2020.
The rate of incidents involving a staff assault also fell during the early months of the pandemic, reaching a low of 139 per 100 CYP per year, but has been rising in recent quarters. In the latest 3 months to 30 September 2021 there were 283 assault incidents on staff at a rate of 208 per 100 CYP per year, a 47% increase compared to the same 3 months last year where the rate was 142.
The rate of serious assaults in the 3 months to 30 September 2021 was 21 per 100 CYP per year, which is an increase in comparison to the same period last year where the rate was 18.
During the 3 months to 30 September 2021 there were 373 unique assailants / fighters compared to 363 over the same period in 2020, indicating an increase rate in the context of the average population falling 17% between the two periods. Over the 12 months to 30 September 2021 there were 878 unique CYP involved in an incident as either an assailant or fighter compared to 1,027 over the 12 months to 30 September 2020.
During the 3 months to 30 September 2021 there were 125 unique CYP victims compared to 108 over the same period in 2020. A rate increase is indicated in the context of the average population falling 17% between the two periods. The number of unique victims among children and young people was 398 in the 12 months to 30 September 2021, down from 509 in the 12 months to 30 September 2020
Figure 3: Rate of assault incidents per 100 CYP per year - Jul to Sep 20 and Jul to Sep 21
The rate of assault incidents during the 3 months to 30 September 2021 was higher across every sector of the CYPSE when compared to the same period last year (400 compared to 290). As previously highlighted, changes must be considered in the context of these periods falling within the period of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The rate of assaults had the greatest increase in STCs, where there was a 100% increase compared to the 3 months to 30 September 2020. For SCHs there was a 41% increase and a 27% increase in YOIs. The lowest assault rates in the 3 months to 30 September 2021 were recorded in YOIs. In the 3 months to 30 September 2021, the comparative rate of assaults across the sectors were 1,101 per 100 CYP per year in STCs, 466 per 100 CYP per year in SCHs and 297 per 100 CYP per year in YOIs.
The rate of assaults on staff in the 3 months to 30 September 2021 was highest within STCs at 722 per 100 CYP per year, a 108% increase compared to the same 3 month period last year ending 30 September 2020. For SCHs the rate is 351 per 100 CYP per year, a 56% increase compared to the same period last year. In YOIs the rate for the 3 months to 30 September 2021 is 115 per 100 CYP per year, a 26% increase on the same period last year.
In terms of protected characteristics, the rates of involvement as an assailant or fighter over the 12 months to 30 September 2021 were higher than other groups for girls at 1,375 per 100 CYP per year, for 15 year-olds at 1,171 per 100 CYP; for CYP from a black background at 866 per 100 CYP, and for Christians at 733 per 100 CYP.
The groups with the highest rate of involvement as a victim were 15 and 16 year olds, at 116 and 120 per 100 CYP per year respectively and CYP from ‘other’ ethnic groups at 141 per 100 CYP per year.
Figure 4: Rate of assailant / fighters by protected characteristic – Oct 20 to Sep 21
3. Self-Harm: April 2014 to September 2021
Self-harm incidents increasing and up on the same period last year
In the 3 months to 30 September 2021 there were 379 incidents of self-harm involving 97 different CYP. The annualised rate was 279 incidents per 100 CYP per year, an increase of 5% compared to the same period last year.
Figure 5: Annualised rate of self-harm incidents per 100 children and young people in custody
The rate of self-harm incidents fell significantly during the first 9 months of the Covid-19 pandemic but increased sharply in the quarter April to June 2021, recording 345 per 100 CYP per year, the highest self-harm rate since 2014. The self-harm rate for the 3 months to 30 September 2021 has reduced from this peak but remains at 279 per 100 CYP per year, 5% higher than the rate for the 3 months ending September 2020.
The number of individuals self-harming over the 12 months ending 30 September 2021 was 274 compared to 319 for previous 12 months. The number of individual CYP self-harming in the latest 3 months was 97, compared to 81 individual CYP who self-harmed in the 3 months ending 30 September 2020. The rate of individuals self-harming per 100 CYP was 48 for the 12 months to September 2021 and 42 for the previous 12 months.
Figure 6: Rate of self-harm incidents per 100 CYP per year - Jul to Sep 20 and Jul to Sep 21
Rates of self-harm differ across the three sectors of the CYPSE. The highest rates are usually recorded in the SCHs, followed by the STCs with the lowest rates in YOIs, but differs this quarter with STCs being the highest. The rate of self-harm at SCHs for the 3 months to 30 September 2021 was 414 incidents per 100 CYP, this is a decrease of 35% in comparison to the same period last year. STCs had a rate of self-harm of 692 per 100 CYP, a decrease of 14% in comparison to the same period last year. YOIs rate of self-harm was 200 per 100 CYP, a 71% increase in comparison to the same period last year.
The rate of self-harm incidents can be influenced by a few individuals self-harming multiple times, so it is important to consider the number of different individuals self-harming as well as the overall count of incidents. The highest rate of unique CYP self-harming over the 3 months to 30 September 2021 was in STCs (31 different self-harmers from an average population of 53)[footnote 1], followed by SCHs (18 different self-harmers from an average population of 76) and then YOIs (49 different self-harmers from an average population of 411)[footnote 2]
Over the 12 months to 30 September 2021, a total of 407 self-harm incidents resulted in an injury requiring some treatment, 29% of the total, and 57 required hospital attendance, representing 4% of the total.
The number of girls in the CYPSE is low (an average of 17 out of a total population of 577 over the 12 months to 30 September 2021), but they do include some of the most vulnerable children and young people. The rate of self-harm among girls was 1,932 incidents per 100 per year, compared to 187 per 100 boys per year. Each of the girls who self-harmed also did so on average 13 times per year.
Within protected characteristic groupings, self-harming was most common among 15-year-olds (796 incidents per 100), White children (288 per 100), and those identified as Other Religion (362 per 100) followed by Muslim (293 per 100) in comparison to others in the group.
Figure 7: Rate of self-harm incidents by protected characteristic – Oct 20 to Sep 21
4. Deaths: April 2014 to September 2021
No deaths were reported in the Youth Children and Young People Secure Estate in the 12 months ending 30 September 2021.
Deaths of children and young people are fortunately rare and there were no deaths in the 12 months ending 30 September 2021. Since April 2014 there have been three deaths of children and young people within the CYPSE.
- Two at Cookham Wood YOI, in July 2015 and June 2019
- One at Hillside SCH, in February 2017
- All of these deaths were due to natural causes
Further Information
Accompanying files
As well as this bulletin, the following products are published as part of this release:
- A guide providing further information on how the data are collected and processed, as well as an assessment of data quality. The revisions policy, other statistical issues and a glossary of terms used are also covered in the guide.
- A set of summary tables covering both the latest quarter and annual summaries of the data back to 2014/15.
Experimental Statistics status
These statistics are designated as Experimental Statistics. This is because they are a development from Safety in Custody Statistics with the statistics mirroring the information presented in Safety in Custody and reflecting the requirements of the entire Children and Young People Secure Estate. They are undergoing evaluation and may be subject to further development based on user feedback.
Safety in Custody have been designated as National Statistics by the United Kingdom Statistics Authority signifying that they comply with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. The Safety in the Children and Young People Secure Estate Bulletin does not have that designation but nevertheless complies with the Code of Practice whenever possible.
It is the intention to seek feedback from users of the statistics and groups with an interest in youth custody to assess whether the presentation and breadth of the information presented is sufficient and useful. This feedback will inform how and when to remove the experimental statistics designation.
Contact points
Press enquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Justice press office:
Tel: 020 3334 3536
Email: newsdesk@justice.gov.uk
Other enquiries about these statistics should be directed to:
Katherine Tatlock
Youth Custody Service
HM Prison and Probation Service
Southern House
Wellesley Grove
Croydon
CR0 1XG
Email: statistics.enquiries@justice.gov.uk
Next update: 28 April 2022
URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/youth-justice-statistics#youth-secure-estate-statistics
Alternative formats are available on request from statistics.enquiries@justice.gov.uk
© Crown copyright. Produced by the Ministry of Justice.