In a poignant documentary I recently saw, called ‘The Fault Line’ (http://explore.org/explore/middleeast/films/147), filmmaker Charles Annenberg Weingarten says while in the West Bank, “All three religions [Christianity, Judaism, and Islam] stand for peace – I have barbed wire on my fingers, a wall across from me – the whole concept is ‘love thy neighbor?’” (2:34).

This film emphasizes the ways in which wariness and mistrust in the Middle East does nothing but worsen the situation.

When in prison children are not safe and undergo undignified treatment e.g physical restraint and are forcibly strip-searched. Up release young people often leave more angry and worse off than when they first entered and more susceptible to re-offending.

Internationally England and Wales look up more children than any other European nation. Rehabilitation and localised initiatives not incarceration is the solution.

The Howard League for Penal Reform have long highlighted the plight of young people behind bars. Stand with the Howard League and join the ‘Growing Up Shut Up’ campaign here: http://www.howardleague.org/index.php?id=gusu

The comments of the Commons Justice Committee chairman come as no surprise. Unfortunately, nor do the results of the Barnados report. I work as a campaigner for the Howard League for Penal Reform and our research has revealed just how ineffective imprisoning young people is as a means of cutting crime: 76% of all children imprisoned reoffend within a year. Eighty-two percent of boys will be re-convicted within 24 months. We at the Howard League for Penal Reform believe that, if the criminal justice system is to work, it is the child behind the crime that must be engaged with, not just their behaviour. To find out more click on http://www.howardleague.org/gusu/