ARRESTS of children by Avon and Somerset Police have fallen by 79 per cent in the last six years, new figures reveal.

Research published by the Howard League for Penal Reform HLPR has found that the constabulary made 1,533 arrests of children aged 17 and under last year, down from 7,255 in 2010.

The statistics have been published in HLPR briefing, Child arrests in England and Wales 2016, with child arrest figures for Gloucestershire since 2010 as follows:

2010: 7,255

2011: 5.608

2012: 4,321

2013: 2,929

2014: 2,342

2015: 1,767

2016: 1,533

Across England and Wales, the total number of arrests has fallen by 64 per cent in six years – from almost 250,000 in 2010 to 87,525 in 2016.

Frances Crook, chief executive of HLPR, said: “For the sixth year running, there has seen a significant reduction in child arrests across the country.

“Avon and Somerset Police should be applauded for their positive approach.

“By working together, we are ensuring that tens of thousands of children will have a brighter future and not be dragged into a downward spiral of crime and custody.”


Every police force in England and Wales made fewer child arrests in 2016 than in 2010. All but four forces brought down their number of arrests by more than half.

Nationwide, there were 703 arrests of primary-age children (10- and 11-year-olds) in 2016, a reduction of 18 per cent from the previous year.

The statistics have been published in a Howard League briefing, Child arrests in England and Wales 2016, which shows how reducing the number of children entering the system has stemmed the flow of children into custody.

Between 2010 and 2016, the number of children in prison in England and Wales fell by 58 per cent.

As in 2015, arrests of girls are falling at a faster rate than arrests of boys. Police recorded a 69 per cent drop in girls’ arrests between 2010 and 2016, and the number of girls in penal custody fell by 78 per cent during the same period.

The briefing states that the positive trend across police forces has been led at a national level, most notably by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, which has prioritised improvements in the policing of children.