Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department collects data on the use of personal safety techniques on children in young offender institutions and secure training centres.
The Youth Custody Service does collect data on the use of personal safety techniques. The reasons for using these techniques are outlined in Prison Service Instruction 30/2015 (Amendment to Use of Force Prison Service Order 1600). The department publishes data on the use of force, and Non-Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint on young people in custody. The data is published annually and can be found via the link below. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-justice-statistics-2017-to-2018 The safety and welfare of young people held in custody is our highest priority. Restraint is only ever used as a last resort, where there is a risk of harm, and no other form of intervention is possible or appropriate. Every incident of restraint, including those involving personal safety techniques is reviewed individually by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) staff to consider whether any lessons can be learned for the future. Charlie Taylor has been asked to review the Department’s policy on the use of pain-inducing techniques in the restraint of children and young people in the secure estate to ensure that our approach remains appropriate for the youth estate and in line with the latest research. He is due to report back to Ministers with his findings in the coming months. |