BLACK, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) children accounted for 22 per cent of all child arrests by Surrey Police last year, analysis by the Howard League for Penal Reform has revealed.

Surrey Police made 889 child arrests, of which 192 were of BAME children, last year. The league’s figures, compiled from police data supplied by in response to Freedom of Information requests, showed London’s Metropolitan Police (60 per cent), Bedfordshire (42 per cent), and West Midlands (41 per cent) recorded the highest proportions of such arrests in the same year.

The lowest proportions were recorded two per cent in Cumbria and Durham and three per cent in Cleveland Norfolk while Northumbria recorded four per cent.

Across England and Wales, forces made fewer than 88,000 arrests of children in total last year, down from almost 250,000 in 2010.

BAME children accounted for 26 per cent of all child arrests.

The Howard League, which has led a successful campaign to reduce child arrests, has analysed its figures following the findings of the independent Lammy Review of the treatment of, and outcomes for, BAME individuals in the criminal justice system.

Howard League chief executive Frances Crook said: “Working together with the police, we have ensured tens of thousands of children will have a brighter future and not be dragged into a downward spiral of crime and custody.

“But there is still more work to do, and the disproportionate number of BAME children being brought into the system is of great concern.

“It raises serious questions about decision-making throughout the criminal justice journey – from the police’s decision to arrest, to the remand and sentencing decisions of the youth courts.

“The Lammy Review called on police forces and other criminal justice agencies to either explain disparities or reform. Our analysis is intended to assist this discussion.”