Since becoming the Children’s Commissioner, I have travelled across the country meeting children whose lives are shaped by decisions made far away from them and those whose voices are rarely heard.

Time and time again, I have witnessed children being held on custodial remand, not because they pose the greatest risk, but because the system around them has failed. This report shines a light on one of the most troubling aspects of our youth justice system, the use of custodial remand on children.

Every child has the right to grow up safe, loved, and with the opportunity to thrive. Yet, for too many children, that promise is broken long beforehand.

Last year, 441 children who were locked up in custody awaiting their hearing did not end up receiving a custodial sentence. Another 168 children had their case dismissed altogether.

These are not harmless delays. Even a short spell in custody can be profoundly damaging to a child. From disrupting education, cutting them off from their family and community and sometimes entrenching the vulnerabilities that brought them into contact with the justice system in the first place. That experience leaves a mark, one that lasts long after their release.

What children tell me most about their time on remand is the uncertainty. Not knowing what the outcome will be or how long they will be held in custody. They describe feeling powerless, having to cope with waiting for decisions that are constantly delayed and beyond their control.”

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