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.
The evidence found that "they had little or no faith that it would be effective for them. The system was felt to be selective, with complaints that were inconvenient to staff often being ignored. Procedures were considered slow and impersonal. Some feared reprisals if they complained".
But John Drew, chief executive of the Youth Justice Board, said huge strides have been made in the development of safer custodial environments for children and young people over the past decade.
"The estate that we inherited was one in which 80% of all children in custody were held alongside adults," he said. "It is now the case that 80% of all children in custody are held in dedicated facilities for children and young people."
He added that the YJB has invested more than £1m to increase access to advocacy services through Barnardos and Voice.
"In addition we have stated that full searches should only take place where there is a clear justification, and we are working with the government to move towards specific risk-based approaches to full searches across the entire secure estate," he said.
"In terms of the use of restraint, we maintain that it should only ever be used against young people as a last resort where it is absolutely necessary to do so and where no other form of intervention is possible or appropriate."
The deputy children’s commissioner Sue Berelowitz will also be giving oral evidence on OCC's findings to parliament later today (11 May). A full OCC report based on its visits will be published in the summer.
