Campaigners call for judicial review into 'abusive' restraint techniques

The move by the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) comes after it won its three-year battle to gain access to the government’s Physical Control in Care Manual, which governs the use of force in STCs.

CRAE national co-ordinator Carolyne Willow said: "The 119-page manual is deeply disturbing and it's barely believable that former government ministers sanctioned such abusive and violent treatment of children as young as 12."

The children’s rights group will seek a judicial public inquiry through the European Convention on Human Rights to investigate whether the use of restraint and self-defence detailed in the manual contravenes young inmates’ rights. In particular their right to protection from torture or degrading treatment.

The manual, which was delivered to CRAE on 13 July, authorises STC staff in self-defence to "strike the trainee in the face with their elbow" and "use inverted knuckles on both of their hands to drive into both sides of the trainee’s rib cage area."

Other authorised use of self-defence includes driving "straight fingers into the young person’s face."

Katy Swaine, CRAE's legal director, added: "It has been a long, time-consuming process trying to get the manual but without it we were unable to assess the extent to which former ministers authorised unlawful techniques and instruction. We can now prioritise legal proceedings, working with other charities and law firms."