Nacro is against the idea of holding young people in adapted cells on adult wings. The whole culture of an adult prison is not suitable for under 18 year olds, who have different needs and should be held separately.

We have concerns about the growing need to find additional accommodation for young offenders in the adult estate. The juvenile estate should not be overcrowded – the majority of young offenders currently serving sentences should be on robust community alternatives to custody. Youth custody needs to be reduced if we are to have any chance of effectively rehabilitating young offenders and preventing them from following a path of crime into their adult life.