“ I think I must have been born bad” Listening to children in the secure estate Sue Berelowitz Deputy Children’s Commissioner/Chief Executive

3The best interests of the child must be the top priority 12Right to express an opinion and be taken seriously 19Right to be properly cared for and protected from violence, abuse and neglect 28Right to education 24Right to health and health services 37Right not to be treated cruelly if break the law. Loss of liberty should be a measure of last resort & for shortest possible time 39Children who are abused or neglected should receive special help to promote and assist their recovery 40Children should only be imprisoned for the most serious offences and be treated in a manner which promotes their dignity and self-worth. A variety of dispositions should be used to avoid institutional care. UNCRC: relevant articles

60% have suffered maltreatment 50% have problems with peer & family relationships 66% come from broken families 33% have been in care 75% have a history of school exclusion 33% have severe and complex mental health problems 25% have learning disabilities 30% have a physical disability More than 50% have communication and literacy problems High proportion have history of drug and/or alcohol abuse High levels of other health problems Children and young people in custody (“I think I must have been born bad” OCC 2011)

Neurodevelopmental disorder Prevalence young people in the general population Prevalence young people in custody Learning disabilities 2 - 4% % Dyslexia 10% % Communication disorders 5 - 7% % Attention deficit hyperactive disorder 1.7 – 9%12% Autistic spectrum disorder 0.6 – 1.2% 15% Traumatic brain injury % % Epilepsy 0.45 – 1%0.7 – 0.8% Foetal alcohol syndrome 0.1 – 5% %

A need to belong (Centre for Mental Health 2013) 4x more likely than other females in YJS to report poor peer and family relationships 3x more likely to be identified as victims of csa 3x more likely to witness violence & experience physical abuse and neglect 3 – 4x more likely to run away 3-3x more likely to be excluded from school +5x more likely to be involved in risky or sexually harmful behaviour Clear links between victimisation & gang association +25% suspected diagnosable mental health problem 30% self-harming or at risk of suicide 30% have sleeping or eating problems Almost 40% show behavioural problems before age 12.

CSEGG: Key findings 2,400 actual victims in 14/12 16,500 at high risk Happening everywhere Ethnicity Violent and sadistic Relentless Profile of victims Profile of perpetrators Victim/perpetrator overlap

Vulnerabilities Living in a chaotic or dysfunctional household (including parental substance use, domestic violence, parental mental health issues, parental criminality) History of abuse (including familial child sexual abuse, risk of forced marriage, risk of ‘ honour ’ -based violence, physical and emotional abuse and neglect) Recent bereavement or loss Gang association either through relatives, peers or intimate relationships (in cases of gang- associated CSE only) Attending school with young people who are sexually exploited Learning disabilities Unsure about their sexual orientation or unable to disclose sexual orientation to their families Friends with young people who are sexually exploited Homeless Lacking friends from the same age group Living in a gang involved neighbourhood Living in residential care Living in hostel, bed and breakfast accommodation or a foyer Low self-esteem or self-confidence Young carer

Already a victim Missing from home or care Physical injuries Drug or alcohol misuse Involvement in offending Repeat sexually-transmitted infections, pregnancy and terminations Absent from school Change in physical appearance Evidence of sexual bullying and/or vulnerability through the internet and/or social networking sites Estranged from their family Receipt of gifts from unknown sources Recruiting others into exploitative situations Poor mental health Self-harm Thoughts of or attempts at suicide