Chidgey - "Lets Get Them Back on Track"

5.06.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 11th Aug 2004

David Chidgey, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, is backing a new campaign, Back on Track, which calls for a dramatic reduction in the number of children and young people held in prison and the greater use of community alternatives.

Worrying new statistics reveal that prison increases the risk of suicide and self-harm amongst children and young people. Since 1998, 14 children have killed themselves while in custody. The youngest victim was fourteen years old Adam Rickwood found hanged in his cell on Monday.

Mr Chidgey said:

"It is deeply concerning that our young people in prison are subjected to conditions which make their problems worse. Prison is not always the answer. The number of juveniles in custody has more than doubled since 1993 at a huge cost to the taxpayer but this is not helping anyone since 80 per cent of young people re-offend within two years of release."

Community Care magazine is encouraging as many people as possible to sign its petition calling for the human rights of young offenders to be observed and a full programme to be implemented to get them back on track once they are released to minimise the chances of re-offending. The petition can be found at www.communitycare.co.uk

"We need long-term solutions to our problems, not knee jerk reactions. Youngsters who offend often get stuck in a vicious circle. The Back on Track campaign aims to break this which can only be a benefit to the whole community."

As part of his work on the Joint Committee for Human Rights, David Chidgey is involved in a parliamentary inquiry into deaths in custody. On a recent visit to Winchester prison he met with staff to discuss the concerns of all those involved. David has shown his support for the Back on Track campaign by signing EDM 1397