MPs back call for inquiry into death

More than 30 MPs have added their support to the call for a public
inquiry into the death of Joseph Scholes, who died in Stoke Heath
Young Offender Institution in March 2002.

Labour MP Chris Ruane tabled an Early Day Motion at the end of June
calling on the government to set up a public inquiry to deal with
the issues concerning the 16-year-old’s death.

Joseph was just nine days into his two-year sentence at Stoke Heath
when he hanged himself. He was placed there despite recommendations
from the youth offending team that he should serve his sentence in
a local authority secure children’s home.

The motion follows calls for a public inquiry last November from
campaign body Inquest and rehabilitation agency Nacro. The coroner
at Joseph’s inquest also said he would be writing to the home
secretary to say a public inquiry was necessary.

Joseph’s mother, Yvonne Scholes, who is backing Community
Care
‘s youth justice campaign, believes that had Joseph been
placed in a Lasch he would still be alive today.

The future of Laschs has been called into questioned because of
Youth Justice Board plans to reduce the number of places it
commissions in the homes.

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