Children seeing extreme violence while held needlessly in jail, says England and Wales watchdog

Prisons inspectorate finds almost 100 children each year are remanded to custody only to be bailed or moved

Children are witnessing extreme violence including stabbings while being unnecessarily held in custody awaiting trial or sentencing, the England and Wales watchdog has found.

Despite professional expectations they would be managed safely in the community, a report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons has concluded that almost 100 children each year are remanded to custody only to be bailed or moved to local authority accommodation less than two weeks later.