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| Karate Chop Approved to Restrain Youth |
| By The Gaurdian UK |
| Published: 09/26/2005 |
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Staff in United Kingdom privately run "child" jails have been told they can use a painful "karate chop to the nose" technique to control troublesome teenagers as a result of an internal review of restraint methods after the death of a 15-year-old last year, the Guardian has learned. The government's Youth Justice Board has permanently suspended the use of a technique known as the "seated double embrace" on the recommendation of Northamptonshire police, who investigated the death of Gareth Myatt at Rainsbrook secure training centre, near Daventry, which is run by Rebound, a subsidiary of Group 4. But ministers have now quietly approved a new control and restraint system to deal with offenders, aged 12 to 17, held in the network of four secure training centres in England and Wales. MPs have voiced strong concerns over the system used to control the 200 persistent young offenders held at any one time in STCs. Children in STCs have been restrained in more than 11,500 incidents in the last five years. The system, known as "physical control in care", is a children's version of restraint techniques used in adult prisons, and is supposed not to rely on inflicting pain. It involves a series of holds suitable for up to three staff. But following Gareth Myatt's death, Home Office ministers have approved a series of changes to the system of restraint. All staff are to be retrained in the techniques, including "assessing vital signs so they can call a halt to restraint, if necessary", and resuscitation methods. Although the system is not meant to inflict pain, three "distraction" techniques intended to deliver a short, sharp pain aimed at the nose, ribs or thumb are allowed if, for example, there is a need to get a teenager to release his or her grip on another person. The Youth Justice Board said these "minimum force" restraint techniques were used only as a last resort when a child's behaviour was "so challenging it presents a risk to others". A board spokeswoman said they were not used as punishment or to secure compliance with staff instructions. |
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