CHILDREN as young as 10 were among the 5,684 youngsters to be kept overnight in police custody in West Yorkshire in the last five years – a figure branded "shocking" by some critics.

In three of the last five years, the youngest people to be detained overnight in the county were aged just 10, with one of those being a burglary suspect.

Meanwhile, one West Yorkshire youngster spent 24 nights in police custody after being detained on multiple occasions between 2013 and 2018 when he was aged between 13 and 17, according to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request.

The statistics have sparked concern, with one campaign group saying a police cell is "completely inappropriate for children" and questioning the "mental distress" caused by such a "traumatic and frightening" experience.

And there are fears that some of those taken into police custody could themselves be victims of criminal gangs, including those who exploit children as part of the so-called 'County Lines' phenomenon.

West Yorkshire Police said there are occasions when children are necessarily detained overnight due to an investigation – but pointed out that officers are routinely encouraged to make use of alternatives to custody.

READ MORE: ‘County Lines’ gangs ruining young lives in district by luring young people into being drug mules, meeting hears

In 2013/14, a total of 1,288 children spent a night in custody, followed by 1,230 12 months later, 1,181 in 2015/16 and 1,029 in 2016/17. The overall figure continued to fall last year when it stood at 956, but campaigners say the number is still too high.

Frances Crook, chief executive for the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “The figures have gone down by a third and the police should be commended for that, but there is still too many and we are working with the police to bring the number down.

“There are all sorts of reasons why a child might come into contact with the police, but the high number of over-nights is worrying."

Enver Solomon, CEO of Just for Kids Law, which has campaigned on children being in police custody, said: “It is shocking that thousands of children, including the very young, are being held in police custody overnight.

“A police cell is completely inappropriate for children, even if they are being held there for their own safety. It is traumatic, frightening and extremely damaging causing children great levels of mental distress."

Former Keighley town councillor, Angela Sinfield, believes the majority of the children are victims of exploitation and the 'County Lines' phenomenon, where criminals invade smaller towns and force vulnerable people to help them. She said: “Keeping them overnight is the answer because these children are being exploited.”

West Yorkshire Police said there are occasions when children are necessarily detained overnight due to an investigation.

The occasions include a child being represented by an appropriate adult during an interview, waiting if an appropriate adult is not available and giving a child a ‘rest period’ if a decision cannot be taken straight away.

A police spokesman said: “Officers are routinely encouraged to make use of alternatives to custody such as Voluntary Attendance and Community Resolutions when dealing with child suspects, this not only minimises the number of children brought into custody but also avoids children being criminalised from an early age. The use of schools based officers and resolution within the school arena is also a vital tool in diverting children from custody, here the officers can not only deal with issues within the school, but can work beyond the initial contact in order to alleviate any issues within the child’s home life in conjunction with external agencies. There are occasions where a young detainee has been charged and is detained to appear at the next available Court. While secure accommodation continues to be difficult to obtain, an issue which is seen on a national scale, we have been successful in obtaining secure beds for juveniles post charge.”