British juveniles get harsh treatment in private prisons

Kuala Lumpur News.Net
Sunday 18th July, 2010

The Observer has revealed details of brutal techniques used in Britain's private child prisons.

Some measures outlined in a previously secret document include rib punches and raking shoes down the shins.

After the Youth Justice Board agreed to hand over the document to the Observer newspaper, details of restraint methods were published, including placing an inverted knuckle into the prisoner's breast bone and driving "inward and upward".

Another authorised measure read: "Continue to carry alternate elbow strikes to the young person's ribs until a release is achieved."

The manual, entitled Physical Control in Care, was only released under a freedom of information order after a six month legal battle.

Its contents were intended only for staff working in secure training centres, run by private firms under government contracts.

The Children's Rights Alliance for England, has now called for the justice secretary to order an independent judicial inquiry into the running of private child prisons dating back to 1998.

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