After last month's storm of criticism that followed the publication of atraining manual authorising secure training centre staff to usecontroversial techniques including elbow blows to the face, the YouthJustice Board (YJB) has outlined plans to reduce the use ofrestraint.
John Drew, chief executive of the YJB, said that a comprehensivetraining package on "conflict resolution" will be rolled out, beginningwith a pilot in a secure training centre once the plans have beenrubber-stamped by the Restraint Accreditation Board. He said while hebelieves restraint is only used as a last resort the changes could leadto a fall in its use.
"It has been a process of constant reform and improvement over the past10 years," Drew said. "We have constantly refined the system. No doubtit (conflict resolution training) will not be the final answer but oncewe have introduced the new system we will find ways of improvingit."
News of the changes comes as details on the use of restraint in securetraining centres emerged after a number of parliamentary questions weretabled in connection with the recently published restraint manual.
One question revealed that there have been 111 injuries to children as aresult of restraint used in the four secure training centres in Englandbetween June 2009 and May this year.
Another question revealed that restraint was stopped on three occasionsbecause a young person complained of breathing difficulties. A thirdfound that since 2006, 14 staff have been disciplined, 13 staff havebeen suspended and one dismissed following restraint incidents.
Katy Swaine, legal director at the Children's Rights Alliance forEngland (Crae), which campaigned for publication of the restraintmanual, said she is concerned by the statistics. "This is reallyworrying evidence that there is too much restraint going on andpotentially unlawful restraint," she said. "We are concerned it is notbeing treated with enough priority by the Justice Secretary or the YJB."Crae is now calling for a public inquiry on the issue.
