Local government directors working in children’s services have criticized the Government’s decision to allow the use of pepper spray in young offender institutions.
Minister for Youth Justice Sir Nic Dakin said the move was necessary to protect front line officers working in the criminal justice system.
‘This spray is a vital tool to prevent serious violence, helping staff to focus on rehabilitation as part of our Plan for Change,’ he commented.
However, President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS), Rachael Wardell, said the move would be ineffective for dealing with violence and would ‘disproportionally impact marginalised children’.
She added that the safeguarding measures put in place by the Government, such as a requirement to refer to the local authority designated officer after each use, was ‘unlikely to mitigate the risks.’
‘ADCS members continue to advocate for a trauma informed, relationship-based approach that aligns itself more closely with practice in wider children’s services, plus a stronger focus on staff training and skills to work with and support children,’ she said.
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