Vyriausybės iniciatyvos, kuriomis siekiama padidinti saugumą jaunimo sulaikymo įstaigose

• Carefully chosen and trained personnel will be equipped with synthetic pepper spray

• This measure addresses the increasing violence in young offender institutions

• Assaults on staff are occurring at a rate 14 times higher than in adult prisons

In response to escalating violence, this decision aims to ensure the safety of both staff and young individuals, while also minimizing the severity of incidents within young offender institutions.

In recent years, numerous frontline officers have had to risk their safety to shield young people in custody from assaults and to defend against improvised weapons.

PAVA, a synthetic pepper spray that temporarily incapacitates those it targets, will now be accessible to authorized staff in young offender institutions to assist in de-escalating and diffusing violent circumstances.

Today’s announcement coincides with new statistics revealing that the incidence of assaults in public youth offender institutions is approximately 14 times greater than that in adult prisons.

Equipping staff with the necessary tools to maintain the safety of young people in custody will enable them to concentrate on rehabilitation, aiding these individuals in making positive life changes. Reducing reoffending is essential to the government’s commitment to ensuring community safety, forming part of its Plan for Change.

Minister for Youth Justice Sir Nic Dakin stated:

Our government has inherited a criminal justice system in turmoil. The alarming violence faced by our courageous frontline officers in young offender institutions highlights this ongoing crisis.

This decision has not been taken lightly; however, our primary responsibility is to ensure the safety of staff and young people in custody. This spray will serve as a crucial tool to prevent severe violence, allowing staff to concentrate on rehabilitation as part of our Plan for Change.

The number of young individuals in custody has significantly declined in recent years. The majority currently detained in young offender institutions are older teenage boys, aged 16 to 18, with over two-thirds being there for violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder, and grievous bodily harm.

Recent occurrences have resulted in serious injuries to young people in custody, while staff members have suffered fractures, dislocations, puncture wounds, and lacerations.

The implementation of PAVA will enable staff to respond more efficiently to these incidents and restore order swiftly.

This measure will only be employed in specific situations by specially trained personnel where serious violence or a looming threat of it exists. Previously, its use has been restricted to instances when National Tactical Response Groups were deployed to address critical incidents, but this adjustment will facilitate more rapid application to de-escalate situations. It is already utilized by police in the community and by prison officers within adult facilities to mitigate the risk of serious harm to both staff and inmates.

To ensure the safety of both staff and young people, the deployment of PAVA in the youth estate will be governed by strict regulations, with each instance of use being evaluated by an independent panel and reported to ministers for thorough review. Ministers will also reassess its application and effects after 12 months to address any disproportionate use.

This announcement follows comprehensive research and consultations with specialists, including subject matter experts and NHS England.

Additionally, the Government has recently acted to discontinue the practice of placing girls in young offender institutions, following recommendations from Susannah Hancock’s independent review regarding the placement and care of girls in youth custody.