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Although 17 year-olds are treated as children in court, while in police custody they are considered to be 'adults' 
This means that their parents aren't contacted so that they can't be present at the police station nor do they have any knowledge of the trouble their child is in or thier whereabouts. (depending on how assertive they are it must also influence whether they are attended by a solicitor or not)
This petition was started by Nick and Jane Lawton whose 17 year-old son Jo took his own life 2 days after he'd been arrested and held over-night. His parents were not informed so he had no adult known to him at the station.
They are seeking a change in the legislation which according to the Home Office whould be too 'costly'!
Such a change would bring the UK in line with the UN Covention on the rights of the child.
Please..... sign
http://www.change.org/petitions/home...n-custody-4joe
This means that their parents aren't contacted so that they can't be present at the police station nor do they have any knowledge of the trouble their child is in or thier whereabouts. (depending on how assertive they are it must also influence whether they are attended by a solicitor or not)
This petition was started by Nick and Jane Lawton whose 17 year-old son Jo took his own life 2 days after he'd been arrested and held over-night. His parents were not informed so he had no adult known to him at the station.
They are seeking a change in the legislation which according to the Home Office whould be too 'costly'!
Such a change would bring the UK in line with the UN Covention on the rights of the child.
Please..... sign
http://www.change.org/petitions/home...n-custody-4joe
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