Review of child inmate batons ban
The government is to consider allowing staff at young offenders institutions in England and Wales to use batons to control children as young as 15.
In 35 years inside I don't recall ever seeing a prison officer using a truncheon upon a prisoner. This is not to say it never happened only that I never actually witnessed it. Certainly the view in the Dispersal System was that their use could lead to a riot situation, that is, an escalation of violence, therefore the policy was not to use them. The reason being that enough staff would be available in any given situation to control it without the use of truncheons. And, there is the Control and Restraint techniques available.
I feel there is a danger if adults were permitted to use batons on children we could see examples like this from the US happening over here.
