FOI request (FOI-92030178)

Re: Freedom of Information Request regarding local authority obligation under section 21(2)(b) Children Act 1989 to receive, and provide accommodation for, children whom they are requested to receive under section 38(6) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (“PACE”) 1984

I am writing to kindly request information regarding the arrangements in your local authority for fulfilling obligations under section 21(2)(b) of the Children Act 1989 to receive, and provide accommodation for, children in police custody following their arrest when requested to do so by the police under section 38(6) PACE 1984. 

Could you please provide us with the following information:

1. what accommodation is available, for fulfilling its obligations under section 21(2)(b) of the Children Act 1989 (“s 38 beds”), how much of this accommodation is secure and non-secure;

2. the number of times in the year to 01 October 2018 you have been contacted and asked to receive, and provide accommodation (secure and non-secure) for, children under section 38(6) PACE 1984;

3. the number of times in the in the year to 01 October you have provided such accommodation (secure and non-secure) following a police request under s38(6) PACE 1984; and

4. whether you currently have a policy for fulfilling the statutory obligations under section 21(2)(b) Children Act 1989 and, if so, what that policy is.  If a policy document exists we would be grateful if you could please provide us with a copy, as well as a copy of all previous policy.

To clarify, I am looking for information that for example, in the Local Authority:

1. There are currently six s 38 beds, of which one is in secure accommodation;

2. There have been 300 requests to receive and provide accommodation for children in the year to 01 October 2018. 250 of these have been for non-secure accommodation and the rest for secure accommodation;

3. In the year to 01 October 2018, the authority has been able to comply with 200 of the non-secure accommodation requests and 25 of the secure requests;

4. A policy on this issue exists, and a copy is provided;

Information not held

This area is dealt with by East Sussex County Council Children's Services, please visit their website for further information: www.eastsussex.gov.uk