Revealed: Over 192,000 Children in England and Wales Have Incarcerated Parents; Government Urged to Act

For the first time, the number of children with incarcerated parents in England and Wales has been disclosed. Despite Labour's pledge in its manifesto to implement policies supporting vulnerable children, these initiatives were notably absent from Wednesday's King's Speech.

Political journalist @NifS

Thursday, July 18, 2024, 1:

New statistics indicate that over 192,000 children in England and Wales have parents who are presently incarcerated.

For the first time, the government has revealed the extent of young individuals affected – approximately 192,912 – who are likely to emulate their parents' criminal behaviors without proper intervention, according to research.

However, charitable organizations assert that publishing the data is merely "the initial move," and are urging the newly formed government to enhance support for the "invisible children" who are being "overlooked."

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Historically, while in opposition, the Labour Party has actively advocated for this cause. The current energy minister, Kerry McCarthy, previously introduced a private members' bill focused on establishing nationwide standards to ensure that children are identified when their caregivers are sentenced, and to hold the state accountable for providing them with necessary support.

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Her proposed legislation was incorporated into the Labour Party's platform for the general election, which stated: "Children of incarcerated individuals face a significantly higher risk of engaging in criminal activities compared to their counterparts. We commit to recognizing these youths and providing them with the necessary assistance to disrupt this pattern."

Yet, the pledge was noticeably absent from the King's Speech on Wednesday, which set forth the government's policy priorities for the upcoming year to year and a half.

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A source within the government informed Sky News that they are confident in their ability to "begin gathering the data immediately, and would require legislative action to ensure it binds subsequent administrations".

Officials also mentioned that Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is developing proposals for a 'unique child identifier,' which she believes might be an effective method to address the issue.

Ex-Conservative justice secretary Alex Chalk, who recently was ousted from his cabinet position and parliamentary seat following Labour's overwhelming victory, expressed to Sky News his anticipation that the Conservatives would back the proposals, noting they had "paved the way for it."

Indeed, the statistics unveiled today were commissioned by the Conservative Party in 2021, stemming from their whitepaper on prison strategy.

"Mr. Chalk explained, "We undertook this to understand the extent of the problem," noting that it's widely recognized that children of incarcerated parents suffer significant hardships.

"Research consistently demonstrates that proactive and robust measures are essential in policies aimed at safeguarding children… and initiatives to address this issue were already underway when we departed from office."

Felix Tasker, a policy worker at Children Heard And Seen, a charity focused on aiding children and families impacted by the incarceration of a parent, mentioned that young individuals often bear significant shame and stigma for offenses committed by their parents, despite having no involvement in these crimes.

He informed Sky News, "There are cases where children have been assaulted and bullied in school, with peers telling them they would take their own lives if their parents committed such crimes."

In cases involving sexual crimes, families frequently find themselves moving to escape community condemnation, and it's possible that the child involved may be unaware of the offense.

Instances have been observed where children are living entirely by themselves, with no existing system to detect these situations.

He also noted, "Numerous research papers indicate that the challenging and intricate problems encountered by prisoners' children often lead them to commit offenses as well."

"Many children slip through the gaps unnoticed; they are unseen and urgently require assistance."

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Children Heard And Seen expressed approval of the recent data release, yet Mr. Tasker noted that the government "still lacks identification of these children."

He echoed the organization's demands for a legal mandate to recognize children who have a parent incarcerated, and stated that this, combined with the release of official statistics, is "the initial and most crucial step."

Subsequently, the organization aims to have backing initiated from a child's educational institution, particularly for those students qualified to receive a Pupil Premium payment.

A representative from the government addressed the statistics, stating, "Children raised with an incarcerated parent face significant challenges that can adversely affect their future opportunities. This is the reason our government is dedicated to offering the necessary assistance to help these children succeed and prosper."

"This document offers a vivid depiction of the magnitude of the problem and represents a crucial move towards disrupting the recurring pattern of criminal behavior frequently initiated by the incarceration of a parent."

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