Restraint used on young offenders is 'too harsh'

Ministers will be put under unprecedented pressure this week to outlaw forms of physical restraint currently used against young offenders, when the Chief Inspector of Prisons will insist painful control techniques should never be used again.

Nick Hardwick will tell a hearing in the House of Lords tomorrow that "HMI Prisons does not accept that pain-compliance techniques should ever be used".

He will also reveal that he wants to extend his responsibilities to allow him to monitor the treatment of 3,000 young offenders in a network of secure training centres nationwide.

The Independent on Sunday revealed last month that the hearings, conducted by Lord Carlile, were to publish a damning report that recommended "the immediate discontinuation" of the "double-embrace lift", and nose and rib "distractions". Only one has been banned.

Lord Carlile led an independent inquiry into the use of restraint five years ago, after 15-year-old Gareth Myatt died while being restrained at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre.

"It appears to be only the Youth Justice Board who still adhere to the view that pain is an essential part of compliance," said Lord Carlile.