How Norfolk and Suffolk Police deal with children in custody
More than 2,000 children were held in custody last year
A Police Chief working for Norfolk and Suffolk's forces has revealed how the force deals with children in custody.
It's after a Suffolk Constabulary report revealed earlier this year that more than 2,000 children were held in custody last year.
In Suffolk, just over 700 were held at both of the county’s Police Investigation Centres, in Bury St Edmunds and Martlesham.
"We deal with some of the most vulnerable people in Norfolk and Suffolk"
Chief Inspector Robert Wicks, who works as head of custody in Norfolk and Suffolk told us why children may end up in custody: "Sometimes it's due to circumstance unfortunately.
"Not all children have stable family backgrounds and they might not be as privileged as others...
"We deal with some of the most vulnerable people in Norfolk and Suffolk... and when you're vulnerable you can become a target for groups like county lines gangs...
"It's challenging to prevent individuals joining groups like these because they find a group they feel they belong to because the group cares for them, looks after them.
"They make vulnerable people feel like they're loved and needed."
He continued, explaining custody isn't their first port of call: "Where possible, we always try not to bring them into custody... it's always the last resort.
"We don't have too many first time offenders actually coming into custody, it'd be due to an escalation that they'd need to come and use the facilities."
"Help is out there"
Once a child's in custody, Robert tells us they do their best to make the children comfortable: "Children and adults are entitled to exercise, we also have reading material if they want it, and some more comforting items like teddy bear...
"We look after them and make sure they get the appropriate support they need. Hopefully that means we then don't see them coming back in the future, because we've given them opportunity to liaise with partners who can divert them away from a life of crime."
If you're concerned about a young person you know getting caught up in criminal activity, Robert has this advice: "Being a parent is not easy, and this is not about blame.
"We just want to make sure everybody knows help is out there to support them in anything they need to prevent their child becoming involved in criminality."