New figures published by the Youth Justice Board show that the need to address disproportionality in youth justice is more acute than ever.

The YJB report, released in August 2020, shows that children from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds now make up more than half the population of children in custody.

It is these and other such stark statistics highlighting racial disparities that make the Levelling the Playing Field project so vital. They further underpin the urgency and importance of our work to establish sport-based projects that improve life and health outcomes for BAME children and reduce their risk of entering, or becoming further involved with, the criminal justice system.

The YJB's report, entitled ‘Exploring racial disparity: how it affects children in their early years and within the youth justice system’, is well summarised by a series of infographics which you can download here.

The data shows black children are four times more likely to be arrested than white children, more likely to be held in custody on remand and receive harsher punishments.

Rudro Sen, Project Manager for Levelling the Playing Field, commented: "The 2017 Lammy Review formed a significant part of the original evidence basis for our project. These new, insightful research findings of our key partners at the Youth Justice Board only add further justification and motivation for the work we're carrying out to address these racial disparities using the power of sport."

Keith Fraser, Chair of the Youth Justice Board, added: "Our Exploring Racial Disparity report shows we still have a long way to go to understand and eradicate over-representation in the youth justice system.

"The report's findings perfectly illustrate the need for the Levelling the Playing Field initiative and we cannot wait to begin delivery across our four initial target areas."

(Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash)