Crae wins fight to see manual on restraint in STCs

The Youth Justice Board (YJB) and Ministry of Justice were due to appear at an Information Tribunal appeal hearing this week to argue that releasing the instructors’ manual concerning the use of physical restraint would compromise prison security.

But they have now withdrawn the appeal and have agreed to hand over the manual to the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (Crae), which last year secured an order from the information commissioner to see the document.

Carolyne Willow, Crae national co-ordinator, said the document will be analysed to see if further legal action is needed on the use of physical restraint against young people. She added: "It is a document that has been approved by ministers and it is important to find out the full extent of what they have agreed to and whether it breaks domestic or international law."

Crae is also calling for an independent judicial inquiry into the use of physical restraint in STCs. The manual is used in England’s four STCs, which are all privately run.

A YJB spokeswoman confirmed that the manual will be handed to Crae within a 20-day deadline set last week.

Willow added: "They have been given 20 days from last week to release it, but what’s stopping them doing it right now?"