Werrington prison and why PAVA will escalate problems for children in custody

This week, HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) published an inspection report on Werrington prison, a young offender institution (YOI) holding boys aged 15 to 18. The report spoke to something that we at the Howard League have been saying for many years – that prison is no place for a child.  

Among its key findings, the report highlighted that children at the prison are spending too long locked up, with lamentable education opportunities. A staggering 85% of the boys were not receiving their entitlement of 15 hours of education per week. In the instances that they did access education, the curriculum was insufficient and did not help them prepare for life outside.  

A staggering 85% of the boys were not receiving their entitlement of 15 hours of education per week.

The time out of cell for the children was similarly shocking, with children spending an average of just three and a half hours out of their cells daily. Some children were not unlocked for several days in a row – with many of them too scared to leave their cells. In one case, a boy did not come out of his cell for 10 days.  

These are appalling figures. That any prison would report such poor standards is shocking, but to read of such standards in an institution holding children is inexcusable.  

In one case, a boy did not come out of his cell for 10 days.

It is well established that children are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects associated with isolation from others, and locking children alone in their cells for lengthy periods can have a serious adverse impact on their mental health. Every child deserves the chance to grow and fulfil their potential, but the conditions that children are being held in are having the opposite effect. At Werrington, only 34% of children told inspectors they felt cared for by staff and inspectors found that “too much interaction with children took place through a locked door”.  

Rather than providing the productive, rehabilitative regimes that children need to thrive and return to their communities, they are being locked away – often with limited meaningful human contact or access to the education and training that could help turn their lives around.  

And it is in this context that the government is rolling out the use of PAVA – a chemical irritant spray that can cause severe pain – against children in prisons, including Werrington.  

This would be a serious escalation in the use of force that is permitted against children in prison, which we have long campaigned against. Far from keeping children and staff safe, using PAVA spray will normalise violence and undermine trust between staff and the boys in their care, making conditions even worse for those living and working in prisons. 

Using PAVA spray will normalise violence and undermine trust between staff and the boys in their care.

The Howard League has launched legal action to challenge this decision. Last week we issued judicial review proceedings in the High Court, asking the court to consider the lawfulness of the decision to introduce PAVA spray into children’s prisons such as Werrington. 

These proceedings are ongoing, but we need your donations to help us continue this important work. You can support us, and read more about our legal case, on our CrowdJustice campaign page.  

Instead of arming staff, the way to improve safety is to close failing young offender institutions and ensure that children are accommodated in more appropriate settings – such as secure children’s homes – where they can be given the care and support they need. Consider joining our campaign so we can continue to our fight to ensure children are protected and given the chance to turn their lives around.  

Gemma Abbott, Legal Director

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