BLACK, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) children accounted for a quarter of all child arrests by Dyfed Powys Police last year according to figures released by the Howard League for Penal Reform - a figure immediately disputed by the Force.

The League claim that the force made 501 child arrests in 2016, of which 127 were of BAME children. The 2011 census states that the BAME population of Dyfed Powys accounts for just 2 per cent of the overall total, or 10,400 people.

However, Paul Jones, custody chief inspector with Dyfed Powys Police states, ’We have reviewed the figures released in March 2017 and identified the data initially provided included the details of custody records created for training purposes, resulting in incorrect figures being provided.

‘The correct figure shows 2.2 per cent (13) juvenile arrests in 2016 involved BAME children. During the same period there were 471 arrests involving juveniles who identified as White-British.

‘Since March 2017 we have reviewed our processes and implemented a new custody performance management system. Arrests of children and BAME detainees are now reviewed monthly.

‘Although the arrest of a juvenile is normally the last resort, the overriding consideration is the protection of the public. The nature and severity of offences, as well as the needs of the investigation, will always form part of the decision making process when considering the arrest of anyone aged under 18’.

Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said, ‘The disproportionate number of BAME children being brought into the system is of great concern.

‘Keeping children out of the criminal justice system helps prevent crime. Academic research has shown that the more contact a child has with the system, the more entrenched they are likely to become, which increases reoffending rates’.