Child arrests in England and Wales 2016

• In 2010 the Howard League for Penal Reform launched the Programme to Reduce Child Arrests

• In 2016 there were 87,525 child arrests in England and Wales, down from 245,763 in 2010

• There were 703 arrests of primary-age children in 2016. Arrests of 10- and 11-year-olds have fallen at a faster rate than that for older children

• There were 14,487 arrests of girls in 2016. Arrests of girls have fallen at a faster rate than for boys

• Every force in England and Wales has reduced the number of child arrests between 2010 and 2016, with 12 forces achieving reductions of more than 75 per cent

• The number of child arrests has reduced by 64 per cent between 2010 and 2016

• The number of children in prison fell by 58 per cent between 2010 and 2016

• This analysis is based on freedom of information data from 43 police service areas in England and Wales and the British Transport Police.