Arrests of youths aged under 18 from September 2021 to March 2022

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.024148

I note you seek access to the following information:

REQUEST 1:
How many children under the age of 18 was arrested in the following months:

1) September 2021
2) October 2021
3) November 2021
4) December 2021
5) January 2022
6) February 2022
7) March 2022

REQUEST 2:
1) What London Borough had the highest number of under 18s being arrested?
2) What was the main reason for under 18s being arrested?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Important: Please ensure the Notes page of the report is read in conjunction with the information presented.

REQUEST 1:
How many children under the age of 18 was arrested in the following months:

1) September 2021
2) October 2021
3) November 2021
4) December 2021
5) January 2022
6) February 2022
7) March 2022

Please see the below attached spreadsheet:

REQUEST 2:

The MPS cannot provide numbers per London Borough. When a person is arrested they can be taken to any Custody Suite across the MPS. This will usually be Custody Suite closest to place of arrest, but is dependent on cell availability and other operational needs. Not all London Boroughs have a Custody Suite within their area.

Q1 - What London Borough had the highest number of under 18s being arrested?

Wood Green Custody Suite

Q2 - What was the main reason for under 18s being arrested?

Top 3 reasons are over the time period requested:

Robbery - Personal = 81
Possession of Offensive Weapon – Knife = 35
Common assault = 25