The Government has agreed to make a copy of the Physical Control in Care manual, governing the use of force on children in secure training centres, available to MPs and peers.

The announcement was made in response to a parliamentary question from crossbench peer Baroness Stern, following briefing from the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE). Documents placed in the parliamentary library are available to the public.

The manual was released to CRAE on 13 July 2010, following a request submitted under the Freedom of Information Act in 2007. CRAE understands that no further copies had been released to statutory safeguarding agencies, Ofsted inspectors or visiting and advocacy services. CRAE believes these agencies and safeguarding professionals cannot properly discharge their statutory duties towards children in secure training centres without full knowledge of the contents of the document. Indeed, this was one of the main reasons CRAE pursued this matter so vigorously.

The parliamentary question was one of a number answered yesterday (27 July 2010). Amongst the findings from these questions were that the manual is still in use today. Another question also revealed that between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010, three incidents of restraint were stopped because a young person complained of having difficulty breathing.

Further information

27 July 2010
Responses to parliamentary questions on the use of restraint in secure training centres:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/100727w0002.htm#10072736002065
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100727/text/100727w0002.htm#10072751000056
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100727/text/100727w0002.htm#10072751000077