Youth Justice Board's negligence led to boy's death in custody

Gareth Myatt was the first child to die while being restrained in custody. He was subjected to restraint techniques after being in custody for 3 days. Unfortunately, the jury did not reach a verdict of unlawful killing, which is what it really is if you think about it, but instead decided that it was an accident. However, the jury did criticise the YJB: "They said the YJB's failure to review the medical safety of the system of restraints was a cause of the death".

It is worth noting that the Home Office approved the method of restraint which led to Gareth Myatt's death, and following his death no longer approved the method.

I find it difficult to accept that 3 grown ups who were restraining Gareth Myatt were unable to tell that he was choking to death at the time.