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Youth Custody
18 June 2020
Type
Written Ministerial Statement
Department
Ministry of Justice
At a Glance
Issue Summary
The minister is addressing youth custody practices, focusing on reducing reliance on physical restraint and improving conditions for separated children.
Action Requested
The Government accepts all recommendations from Charlie Taylor's report and will implement a programme to ensure the use of pain-inducing restraints is only used as a last resort. A panel will scrutinise incidents involving such restraints to ensure their appropriate use. The minister also publishes a new system for separation based on best practices.
Key Facts
- Youth offending has fallen to 38.4%.
- There are fewer than 700 children currently held in youth custody, down from a peak of 3,200 in October 2002.
- £5 million is being spent on training prison officers through a specialist degree programme.
- Enhanced Support Units (ESUs) provide specialist psychological support for children with complex needs at Feltham and Wetherby YOIs.
- A new integrated approach to health care, 'SECURE STAIRS', is rolling out across the youth secure estate.
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