Rough treatment of young offenders 'ignored'

In its submission to Lord Carlile’s public hearing on the use of restraint, solitary confinement and strip-searching on children in custody, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) for England says the use of such techniques "varies considerably across the different parts of the secure estate".

Based on visits to young offender institutions (YOIs), secure training centres (STCs) and secure children’s homes, the OCC found that where there was a high ratio of staff to children and staff felt well supported, restraint was less common.

Its written evidence to the hearing stated: "In one STC we visited, a spike in restraints had been driven by a change in staff rotas resulting in the young people being locked in their cells for increased periods of time with a consequent rise in levels of frustration.
 
"The use of restraint was found to be significantly reduced in small caring settings with high staff/child ratios and where the staff were well trained and well supported."

The OCC singles out the Swanwick Lodge Secure Children’s Home, in Hampshire, and the Keppel Unit at Wetherby YOI for praise for keeping restraint to a minimum.

Routine strip-searching in some institutions was another concern highlighted in the evidence.

"In some establishments strip-searching was based on evidence of risk whereas in others it was done routinely. In one setting all young people were routinely strip-searched after every visit," the OCC evidence found.

Although young offenders knew how to complain about poor treatment by staff, many were reluctant to do so fearing reprisals.