Carolyne Willow

Carolyne Willow, a former child protection social worker and longstanding children’s rights campaigner, is Director of a new charity, Article 39, which fights for the rights of children living in institutional settings. Her book, Children Behind Bars, is published by Policy Press. Carolyne tweets @article_39

When the state says it’s all right to hurt a child

UK government policy allows adults to deliberately inflict pain on a child in certain circumstances. For Adam Rickwood the consequences, 15 years ago today, were lethal.

By Carolyne Willow

/ 8 Aug 2019

When the state says it’s all right to hurt a child

15 things I’ve learned about child prisons since the death of Gareth Myatt

Gareth Myatt died 15 years ago today after being restrained by G4S prison guards. Carolyne Willow shares some of what she’s learned investigating the abuse and neglect of children in state care.

By Carolyne Willow

/ 19 Apr 2019

15 things I’ve learned about child prisons since the death of Gareth Myatt

Two dead boys, UK state secrecy and the long fight for transparency on restraint

An official manual governs the use of restraint on children in custody. It was published with 182 redactions. Carolyne Willow campaigns for transparency. This week the Court of Appeal hears her case.

By Carolyne Willow

/ 30 Oct 2017

UK charity seeks funds to challenge use of painful restraints on children

How can it be wrong to hurt vulnerable children inside a secure children’s home, but all right to inflict pain in transit?

By Carolyne Willow

/ 4 Jul 2017

Children’s rights and the UK General Election 2017

A leading advocate calls for an Act of Parliament to enshrine children’s rights in law.

By Carolyne Willow

/ 6 Jun 2017

England’s bonfire of children’s rights

A new bill threatens decades of carefully drafted laws designed to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in care.

By Carolyne Willow

/ 29 Sep 2016

How many children are sexually abused in prison?

In England nobody is counting. How official secrecy and obfuscation on sexual abuse, restraint and injury put children at risk. See also Five more arrests and another critical inspection report for G4S child prisons.

By Carolyne Willow

/ 9 Jun 2016

Five more arrests and another critical inspection report for G4S child prisons

Children tell inspectors of being verbally, physically and sexually abused. See also How many children are sexually abused in prison?

By Carolyne Willow

/ 9 Jun 2016

When a children’s home is one more stop on the road to prison

New research adds to weight of evidence in the UK that looked after children are being criminalised.

By Carolyne Willow

/ 4 Apr 2016

A safe place for children? G4S pays for “independent” report on Rainsbrook prison

The world's largest security company shows how to undermine a rigorous and shocking account of racism and degrading treatment at a child prison.

By Carolyne Willow

/ 6 Aug 2015

The sex abusers guarding Britain’s most vulnerable children

“They look at you like you’re a dog, making you strip is bang out of order.” The final shocking extract from Children Behind Bars.

By Carolyne Willow

/ 23 Jun 2015

Mothers and sons. On children who have died in UK prisons

Joseph Scholes and Adam Rickwood died within weeks of being placed in penal institutions. Carolyne Willow met the boys’ mothers, and tells their stories in her shocking book, Children Behind Bars.

By Carolyne Willow

/ 22 Jun 2015