A review of police custody facilities in Glasgow has raised concerns about children being held for "inappropriate" lengths of time.
The joint inspection by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) examined 90 custody records from July last year.
It found five instances where children were detained for longer than deemed necessary.
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The report highlighted that a 13-year-old was held for over six hours, while three 14-year-olds were detained for more than six, 10, and 12 hours respectively.
A 16-year-old, subject to a supervision order, was held overnight for more than nine hours.
The HMICS report stated that in each case, the children had been charged with "minor offences."
None of the youngsters in the sample were being held for court.
The report also noted that there was no record on the Police Scotland National Custody System indicating that a custody inspector was aware of, or had sanctioned, the detention decisions regarding the children.
HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland, Craig Naylor, has called on Police Scotland to ensure decisions regarding children detained in police custody are subject to "robust management oversight."
He has also recommended that Police Scotland ensure such decisions are recorded appropriately.
He said: "The staff we spoke to highlighted that the custody division aimed to minimise the number of child arrests wherever possible, and to reduce the time spent in custody at the centres.
"However, our review of records highlighted anomalies in the length of time some children spent in custody.
"We consider holding children in a cell for the length of time we noted to be inappropriate, disproportionate to the offence, inconsistent with custody policy, and potentially detrimental to the child.
"None of these records contained a sufficient rationale to explain why it was necessary and proportionate to delay liberating the child."
Inspectors from HMICS and HIS carried out an unannounced on-site inspection of the three custody centres in September 2024.
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Between them, the three custody centres have 145 cells.
The HMICS Custody Inspection Report—Greater Glasgow noted that the police custody centre at London Road featured a corridor of six cells dedicated to children and young people.
These had been modified and decorated to improve the environment when children were detained.
The station also contained a separate "discrete charge bar" which was reserved for processing children and young people, and other vulnerable detainees.
There was a video information screen where an informative and age-appropriate, 10-minute video could be shown to young detainees, describing the custody facility and clarifying detainee rights and expectations.
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The transformation of the area had been part-funded by a third sector agency, on the basis that the centre could be used as a default destination for young detainees.
Local policing officers had initially been encouraged to use the facility if they arrested a child.
But the inspectors were informed the police station was no longer used as the default location for children and young people in the Greater Glasgow and surrounding areas to be taken when arrested.
The report states: "We found no rationale to explain why this facility was not being used as initially intended."
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The HMICS inspection report made six recommendations for improvement – four to Police Scotland, and a further two to Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership which provides police custody healthcare on behalf of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
The aim of the joint inspection was to assess the treatment of, and conditions for, individuals detained at the three primary custody centres in Glasgow.
Inspectors reviewed the Police Scotland National Custody System (NCS) and examined a representative sample of detainees processed at the custody centres during July 2024.
Wendy Middleton, Assistant Chief Constable said: “Police Scotland welcomes the publication of the report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland and will now carefully consider the findings and recommendations.
“Whilst issues have been identified and will be addressed, we have seen a reduction in the number of younger children being brought into custody overall and a significant decrease in the number of older children held over 24 hours. This demonstrates a collective desire not to have children in our care for any longer than is absolutely necessary, and this will continue to be a priority for us.
“We have made it clear that police custody is no place for children and young people, and we are actively working with stakeholders including the Children’s Commissioner to explore appropriate alternatives to police custody for children and young people and to minimise the occasions on which it may be necessary."
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