Children aged 11 among 6,000 youngsters held in police cells

CHILDREN as young as 11 were among nearly 6,000 Scots youngsters held overnight in police cells in the past three years.

Figures obtained via freedom of information laws show 95 were 13 or under, including three 11-year-olds – below the age threshold for criminal prosecution.

The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice said the ‘shocking’ practice highlighted ‘obvious failures’ around how children are treated by the justice system.

The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland will raise the issue with the independent advisory group that scrutinises police use of emergency powers.

Police Scotland said children were only detained overnight in its custody in ‘exceptional circumstances’ – often because there was nowhere else for them to go.

Assistant Chief Constable Kenny MacDonald said: ‘It is only in the most serious of cases that an under-18 accused person will be held in custody.’

Last night, a spokesman for the SNP said: ‘Children are only kept in police custody as a last resort.’