A new report has raised concerns over children being detained for excessive periods in police cells in Glasgow, with some held overnight or for several hours beyond what inspectors deem necessary. Watchdogs are calling for stricter oversight to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Inspectors Find Unjustified Detention of Children
A joint review conducted by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) examined three police custody centres in Glasgow. Inspectors scrutinized a sample of 90 cases involving minors and found that five children had been held for longer than necessary, sometimes without sufficient justification.
At Glasgow’s London Road, Govan, and Cathcart police stations, instances of prolonged detention included:
- A 13-year-old held for more than six hours.
- Three 14-year-olds detained for periods of over six, 10, and 12 hours.
- A 16-year-old under a supervision order held overnight for more than nine hours.
The watchdogs determined that these cases involved minor offences and that the extended detentions were both inappropriate and inconsistent with established custody policies.
Lack of Justification Raises Alarms
Craig Naylor, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland, criticized the detentions, stating: “We consider holding children in a cell for the length of times we noted to be inappropriate, disproportionate to the offence, inconsistent with custody policy, and potentially detrimental to the child.”
The report noted that in none of the cases was there a clear rationale explaining why the child’s release was delayed. This absence of documentation raised further concerns about the management of custody decisions involving minors.
Staffing Shortages Complicate Custody Procedures
During their visit, inspectors assessed the conditions of cells, observed procedures, and interviewed both custody staff and healthcare professionals. One of the most pressing issues highlighted was staffing shortages. Both custody officers and local police described these shortages as “very challenging,” often leading to operations running below the required levels.
The report found that:
- Insufficient staff levels made it harder to manage detainees effectively.
- Some decisions regarding detentions lacked oversight due to operational pressures.
- Healthcare professionals faced difficulties in providing timely care to those in custody.
One custody officer interviewed for the report admitted that stretched resources made it difficult to process detainees efficiently, sometimes resulting in unnecessary delays in release.
Recommendations for Improvement
HMICS has issued six recommendations to address the concerns, with four directed at Police Scotland and two at Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, which provides custody healthcare services.
Key recommendations include:
- Ensuring robust management oversight at all times in police custody centres.
- Improving staffing levels to meet operational base requirements.
- Enhancing documentation procedures to justify detention decisions more clearly.
- Strengthening healthcare provisions within custody facilities.
Naylor emphasized that while the report focused on Glasgow, similar issues might exist in other custody centres across Scotland. “Some of these recommendations will be equally applicable to other custody centres,” he said.
Calls for Systemic Change
The findings have prompted discussions on how Scotland’s justice system treats young offenders. Children’s rights advocates argue that detaining minors for minor offences should be a last resort, particularly when alternative interventions, such as community-based responses, may be more appropriate.
Legal experts have also pointed out that prolonged detentions could have lasting psychological effects on young people, potentially exacerbating trauma or reinforcing negative interactions with law enforcement.
While Police Scotland has yet to respond formally to the recommendations, the report adds pressure for immediate reforms to ensure that children are not unnecessarily held in police custody.
