Cynhyrchwyd y canllawiau fel rhan o brosiect a sefydlwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn 2015 yn sgil pryderon am y nifer o blant  a oedd yn cael eu cadw yn amhriodol yng nghelloedd yr heddlu dros nos tra bônt yn disgwyl i ymddangos yn y llys drannoeth.  Roedd yn canolbwyntio’n bennaf ar blant a oedd wedi’u cyhuddo o drosedd ond heb gael mechnïaeth, ac y dylasent gael eu trosglwyddo i uned ddiogel neu lety awdurdod lleol o dan Ddeddf yr Heddlu a Thystiolaeth Droseddol 1984 a Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014.
The guidance was produced as part of a project set up by the Welsh Government in 2015 following concerns about the number of children and young people who were being held inappropriately in police cells overnight while awaiting a court appearance the following day.  It focused particularly on children who were charged with an offence and refused bail, and who should be transferred to a secure unit or local authority accommodation under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.