The Prison Reform Trust has published a briefing setting out a 12 point plan on how to reduce the number of young people jailed.

The document says detention should only be used for under-18s who have committed serious violent crimes and who pose a serious physical threat to their communities.

The report also publishes the full findings of an ICM poll revealing that the public believe locking up children is damaging and counterproductive. The poll, of over 1,000 people across the UK conducted on behalf of SmartJustice, reveals:

• Almost two thirds of people (62 per cent) believe prisons are ‘universities of crime’;
• Two thirds of people (65 per cent) believe imprisoning children for non-violent crimes is ineffective.

The briefing can be downloaded from the Prison Reform Trust website.