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 21 August 2008 21:27 BST

Calls for end to restraint methods used on children in custody

Friday, 07 Mar 2008 12:11
Restraint tactics used on children in custody are controversial
Calls have been made to end the restraint tactics used on children in custody.

A report by the Joint Human Rights Committee published today claimed there was no excuse for the "unacceptable" use of violence on children as young as 12 years old.

MPs claimed that the changes in guidance for staff, introduced after a 14-year-old died while in custody, had worsened the situation and allowed them to enforce discipline on the children by using violence.

Committee chairman Andrew Dismore said that employees at Secure Training Centres (STCs) should not be allowed to carry out violence against the children.

"We must remember that detainees are children in the care of the state, which has a duty to ensure that all detained young people and STC staff are protected from abuse or violence," Mr Dismore said.

"What is in effect state sanctioned infliction of pain against children to ensure 'good order and discipline' should not continue.

"Restraint should only be used to prevent injury to the trainee or others or to prevent escape."

The committee's report looked at four detention centres in England for children between 12 and 17 and found that restraint techniques had been used 3,000 times a year, the equivalent of each child being subjected to the methods 10 times each.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman claimed, however, that of the 3,000 incidents, only a small number had been "distraction techniques", designed to inflict pain.

Between February 2006 and March 2007 the distraction techniques were used 169 times when a child was being violent towards staff and fellow inmates.

Bending an offender's thumbs back and jabbing them in the ribs are some of the techniques currently allowed.

Hitting the children under the nose was banned after Adam Rickwood, 14, killed himself in 2004 after receiving the treatment.

The Ministry of Justice claimed today that an independent review would "examine the whole question of the operation of restraint in secure training centres and indeed in children's homes and youth offender institutions.

"Force is only ever used as a last resort. However, behaviour in secure training centres can be very violent and staff need appropriate and effective methods to contain and resolved dangerous situations." End of story


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