BBC Scotland News
BBCChildren are being offered calls in a plan with the objective of offering emotional support and reducing the possibility of re -starting children who are taken into police custody in Glasgow.
Police Scotland stated that to be held in a police cell may be a “frightening” experience for young people who are often unsafe and complex needs.
As part of the scheme, under -19 will be informed about the confidential helpline being run by the opportunity to talk to children’s charity, NSPCC and a counselor.
It came earlier this year as a review of police custody facilities in Glasgow that many children were held in cells. A “inappropriate” length of time.
More than 3,700 youths between the ages of 12 and 18 were taken into police custody across Scotland between April 2024 and March this year.
680 overnight held and 204 held for more than 24 hours,
Last month, a Scottish Police Authority report highlighted a high frequency of young people on charges of crimes in recent years.
It said that people aged 16, 17 and 18 were accused of serious violence, while children aged 11 to 15 commit crimes related to violence and threatening behavior.
The report stated that there was an increased circulation to carry that young age group weapons and the number of young women involved in the acts of violence had increased.
The changing nature of the gangs and the exploitation of weak youth were identified as a growing issue.
Sup Mary McKinness of Police Scotland Criminal Justice Services Division said that when she is detained, children and youth were often on the “point of crisis”.
“They are very insecure and often have very complex needs, both personal and emotionally who often play in their behavior,” she said.
“Apparently being in an atmosphere of custody does not help, which is why we work with partners and try to find support and safe housing elsewhere.”
The senior official said that young people may feel more comfortable talking to childline about their problems than police officers.
The scheme follows a 10 -week pilot in Glasgow’s London Road Police Decruit Unit, which has been adapted to young people as a “quiet” environment.
Children were offered books, saw puzzles and soft toys – and the cells consist of bright colored murals on the walls, in which posters carry childline helpline numbers on the roof.
Custody SGT Derek Taggart, located at the station, said that arrival could be a terrible experience for children, especially if it was the first time.
He said: “We get people from all areas of life and they are all very weak for many situations.
“Childline is capable of bridging the difference that the police cannot do.
“This is for them to talk and advise them because sometimes the police are not always ‘Go-to’ and this is a confidential call.”
Out of 107 youths detained during the pilot, 97% accepted a notice sheet about the service.
It is not known how many helpline has been contacted as confidential service.
Childline team manager Lauren Burke in Glasgow said that young people who contact them in custody often say that they feel fear and isolated.
He said: “There can be many reasons that a child is in custody.
“It is not always straight forward as people can think – it can be at home, it can be exploited.
“But what they always say to us is that they feel very alone.
“So we want to provide that emotional support so that they know they are not alone.
“Childline takes place here 24 hours a day, so at any point that they take in, they can call us and simply do a chat and take some time to calm down.”
He said that sometimes children just want to talk to someone, but counselors can direct them to other services.
The Glasgow Project is the first in Scotland and the police Scotland and NSPCC are expecting it to roll it out across the country.
The service was originally launched in Mercesis in 2023 and was rolled out in Cheshire the following year.
In March, Scotland (HMCIS) at HM (HMCIS) HM Inspector and Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) investigated three police custody centers in the city and found five opportunities where children were considered necessary for a long time in cells.
HMCIS has called for a “strong management oversight” from Police Scotland on the decision to detain children in custody.
Police Scotland and Scottish Police Authority say that there is no place for police custody children and youth, but sometimes it is necessary when no option is available.
A spokesman from the police Scotland said that in London Road and Glasgow Cathcart, detention suites were “adapted as part of the trauma -informed approach to young people, when children are detained.”
