The cells of the children were difficult places for me to photograph because they are impersonal and intimate at the same time. Once inside, you quickly find yourself going in circles, with nowhere to go. Your gaze settles on the very few elements that make up the space: a window, cell bars, a rudimentary bed, a plank serving as a desk, and sometimes a book or a few drawings.
Sometimes, due to staff shortages, a young person may spend as much as 23 hours a day in their cell. This and the low levels of access to educational and sports activities have been criticised by Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture.
