Howard League for Penal Reform

Millions spent on 'needless' remand

Courts wasted an estimated £230 million of taxpayers’ money last year by needlessly locking up people on remand, figures published by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal today (18 August 2014).

During 2013, more than 35,000 people who had been remanded in custody went on to be either acquitted or given non-custodial sentences.

The money spent on keeping them in prison...

Devon and Cornwall Police take DNA samples from 19 children every week

Devon and Cornwall Police take DNA samples from 19 children every week, figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal today (20 May 2013).

New research by the charity has found that Devon and Cornwall officers took swabs from 1,009 boys and girls aged 17 or under during 2011.

They included 18 primary school-age children – five 10-year-olds and 13 11-year-olds...