Author Archives: Penelope Gibbs

Penelope Gibbs

The Independent View: Liberal Democrat MPs should vote against secure colleges which would put younger children and girls at risk

By Penelope Gibbs | Mon 1st December 2014 - 8:55 am

“It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails” said Nelson Mandela. Well, what would it reveal about the state of our nation if we were to hold our youngest children and some of the country’s most vulnerable girls in unsafe conditions where they felt fearful, intimidated and isolated?

On Monday, Liberal Democrat MPs will cast the deciding votes on whether this becomes a reality.

The Commons will consider an amendment made by the House of Lords to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill on “secure colleges” – the new form of child custody introduced by the Bill. These will be very large institutions (there’ll be 320 beds in the first one) which Chris Grayling, the Tory Justice Secretary, is adamant must hold girls and boys between 12 and 17 years of age.

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Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | Tagged and | 5 Comments
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