Young held in worse cell conditions than adults, says lawyer

Young people facing serious charges are being held in conditions no adult would experience, a youth advocate says.

A 15-year-old boy was held in a Christchurch police cell for 11 straight nights and another boy was released this week after 12 consecutive nights, Christchurch lawyer Kristy O'Connor said today.

The acute shortage of youth justice beds meant 14 youths had to spend the night in police cells across the country on Monday, she said.

Adults awaiting sentence are sent to remand prisons but youth offenders must be given Child, Youth and Family beds, she said.

When no secure beds were available, youths were kept in underground police cells.

"These kids are held in concrete bunkers. They are facilities no adult would be held in."

Ms O'Connor said her 15-year-old client was released on Monday after he had spent 11 nights in a cell.

"There was a young boy held for 12 nights at the same time as him. He was released back into the community because no secure bed became available.

"It's not uncommon. It's not just Christchurch, it's a widespread problem."

A 16-year-old Porirua youth offender has been held in a police cell for 12 consecutive nights, his lawyer said yesterday.

CYF said yesterday that while it was "not ideal", there was no quick fix for the growing demand for youth justice beds.

Figures from the department last year showed that between January and September young people under 17 spent time in police cells for up to 12 nights.

Judges were consistently saying there was a lack of appropriate facilities, Ms O'Connor said.

Police cells were designed to hold people from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning, pending a first appearance in court.

CYF residential services manager Ken Rand said three of the youths in police cells were moved to youth residences yesterday.

Placements were given priority based on risk and nature of the alleged offence, while age and sex was also considered, he said.

CYF Minister Ruth Dyson said she was "unhappy" with any young person being held in cells for anything longer than overnight.

There are 90 beds at youth justice residences in Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch.

That number will increase to 102 in September when CYF opened a 32-bed facility in Christchurch. A further 24 beds would will available by 2008 when a central Youth Justice building is due to be opened.

- NZPA