Hammersmith and Fulham council allegedly failed to support a
17-year-old pregnant girl on her release from custody, the House of
Lords heard today.
The Howard League for Penal Reform, representing the girl who is
now 19, claims she was placed in a string of “unsafe” bed and
breakfasts by the housing department where she lived a”chaotic”
life and committed criminal offences.
The girl, who is subject to an anonymity order and known as M,
had been made homeless without support from her family home by her
terminally ill mother who was unable to cope, the Howard League
claims.
She had been released from custody after serving two months of a
four-month Detention and Training Order for breach of a supervision
order.
The Howard League argues that Hammersmith and Fulham Council
failed to assess whether M was a child who required a home and
support under the provisions of the Children Act 1989.
At the start of the two-day hearing in the House of Lords today,
director of the Howard League Frances Crook said the case
highlighted the "nationwide failure" of local authorities to
provide appropriate support and accommodation for children leaving
custody.
She added: "What can we expect of vulnerable children leaving
custody, if we do not ensure they receive the care required to
rebuild their lives? The vast majority of these children have
difficult family backgrounds, with histories of abuse and neglect,
while many also suffer mental health issues and addictions to drugs
or alcohol.
“Considering that over three quarters of juveniles reoffend on
leaving custody, this is not simply an issue of a child’s rights
and our decency as a society but also an issue of public
protection.”
Hammersmith and Fulham Council's cabinet member for children's
services, Antony Lillis, said: "The council's approach in this
complicated area has been backed in two previous court hearings and
we are confident of our position. We will be as interested as
anyone if the House of Lords changes the legal position on
this."
A decision on the case is expected within the next few
months.
More information
Essential information on youth justice
Related articles
Howard League hails ruling on young offender
Resettlement plans slip through funding gap
Councils failing children leaving custody