Strip searches carried out on children
43,000 strip-searches carried out on children as young as 12
Campaigner criticises 'institutionalised child abuse' after FOI request reveals huge number of searches in custody
A promise to end routine strip-searching of children in custody is being flouted, according to data revealing there were more than 43,000 recorded incidences involving children as young as 12 over a 21-month period – but in only 275 searches were illicit items found.
Contraband was discovered in eight of every 1,000 searches in young offender institutions and secure children's homes and training centres in the course of one year, and just three in the next year. Tobacco was the most common item found, with no recorded discoveries of drugs or knives.
A leading children's rights campaigner described the practice as "institutionalised child abuse" after a freedom of information request identified that a total of 43,960 such searches, which routinely involve the children being made to strip naked, were carried out in 21 months.
Two years ago, the Youth Justice Board announced that the routine strip-searching of incarcerated children would stop. Its press release said children had described the practice as undignified, leading "to feelings of anger, humiliation and anxiety".
But the information obtained under FOI and seen by the Guardian shows children were made to strip naked 43,960 times in 25 young offender institutions (YOIs), secure children's homes (SCHs) and secure training centres (STCS) in the 21 months up to December 2012.
The youngest person to be strip-searched was 12. Nearly half – 48% – of children strip-searched were from black and minority ethnic communities. Physical force was used on children being searched 50 times.
The FOI request was made by Carolyne Willow, former national co-ordinator of the Children' Rights Alliance England. She described the "practice of children being forced to expose their naked bodies to adults in authority as institutionalised child abuse".
At the end of August 2012, there were 1,643 children in custody in England and Wales, of whom 1,225 were held in YOIs, 269 in STCs and 149 in SCHs. Of those, 64 were aged under 14 and two just 12. The cost of keeping children in the secure estate was £268.9m.
In 2006, Lord Carlile QC conducted an inquiry into the use of restraint, strip-searching and segregation in child custody. Then, as now, fewer than 10% of searches yielded a "find" and tobacco was the most common item discovered.
One 16-year-old girl told the inquiry she had been strip-searched and ordered to hand her sanitary towel to staff.
Another girl recalled: "When I had my first full search it was horrible as I have been sexually abused and I didn't feel comfortable showing my body as this brought back bad memories."
Willow said: "This matter is of such magnitude that ministers must amend the rules governing secure establishments to prescribe the extremely limited circumstances in which it would ever be permissible to make children in institutions remove their clothes and underwear."
John Drew, chief executive of the YJB said full strip-searches should only be used following an assessment of risk and this should be the starting point for practice in all secure establishments.
He added: "Where providers of STCs and YOIs consider it necessary to carry out routine full searches on first admission, this approach should be justified and will be kept under review by the YJB."
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said a revised searching policy for young people was introduced last March that ensures their safety and security while not subjecting them to a full search unnecessarily.
"Full searches will only take place when it is necessary and there is a clear justification or identified risk. We have a duty to keep any item that could endanger the safety of young people out of secure establishments. We use a number of measures to disrupt their supply and searches are an important part of this."
The routine strip-searching of women prisoners ended in 2009, after a review undertaken by Lady Corston.
Mimi are u hiding urself in the wardrobe? (:
Such searches can cause great disturbances in young minds. However know that many demonic minded criminals can and will stoop to using even children and the elderly for drug/weapon smuggling and worse still suicide bombing! Hence the authorities cannot be blamed for allowing this practice. However I think steps must be taken instead to minimize the embarrassment and ensure no harassment takes place. Oh and this should only be a last resort and used only for extreme suspicious situations.
blisteringbarna: Stop watching ,I can see that preverted look in your eyes O_O!
Being nude is not a crime!
I hope you guys cant see me... ;-)
Would make for an interesting get together :O)
I'm naked under my clothes right now.
Half of QL could be... Naked... its an insane world.. lol
To be honest, I only recall a couple of strip searches and those weer for drugs ..
I don't think being obnoxious is a reason to make them get naked. In that case we would be asking half of QL to get naked all the time.
LOL TB please post more
Having done some work in a "Half Way House" during my college days. I can tell you that some of those kids are not the easiest to deal with and can be really obnoxious..
I've no issues with it for adults Brit. Generally adults know what's going on. Children won't always understand it, especially kids under 12. And to carry out 43,000 of them in 21 months is insane.
Whilst i don't go in for all the neo pinko , commie, leftie, guardian reading clap trap about the long term psychological harm. I do believe that strip searches are wrong, unless there is a clear evidence to support one.
MM AND MN are made for each other......lol
looks like someone has joined the trolls regiment.
How about the soap thread? It is really interesting to see who uses what, and what is the most popular.
I can't be bothered to discuss toothpaste.
touch my lil boiz and I’ll break your blimmin nose!!!
Actually MM I am finding the thread on toothpaste very relevant ;)
Ash dieback: First three Wales cases of 2013 in woods
Chalara dieback of ash is caused by a fungus called Chalara fraxinea
Ash tree disease found in Newport
New ash tree disease cases found
Ash dieback confirmed in Wales
The first three cases of ash dieback in 2013 have been found in Wales, the Forestry Commission has confirmed.
The fungus, which causes trees to gradually wither and die, has been found at three newly-planted sites in private woodland in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.
All the young trees on the three sites have been destroyed as a precautionary measure to try to contain the disease.
Ash dieback has now been identified at 16 sites across Wales.
This is the first time the fungus chalara fraxinea has been found in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.
Continue reading the main story
Ash dieback facts
Chalara does not pose a risk to human or animal health.
Government guidelines state there is no need to restrict public access to woodlands.
The main source of spread is from the transport of infected ash plant parts.
When visiting the countryside people are asked not to move ash trees and leaves.
Steps should also be taken to try to remove mud from boots, clothes, bicycles, baby buggies, dogs, vehicles.
Source: Forestry Commission Wales
A spokesperson for Forestry Commission Wales said it was important to point out that no cases have been found in the natural environment in Wales.
Chalara dieback of ash, caused by the fungus chalara fraxinea, was identified at the new Welsh sites during a "trace forward" inspection of young trees sourced from known infected nurseries.
Forestry Commission Wales staff are checking all known recent ash plantings to establish the full extent of the outbreak, which has yet to be discovered beyond new planting sites in Wales.
John Browne, of Forestry Commission Wales, said: "While these newly confirmed infections have extended the known distribution of this disease in Wales, there is still no evidence that chalara is present in the wider environment here."
The disease was first recorded in Britain in early 2012 in Leicestershire and is known to have spread to the wider environment in the south-east of England from spores which are believed to have been blown across the English Channel and North Sea.
The UK government has drawn up an interim disease control plan and has imposed a ban on imports and movements of ash plants and seeds into and within the country to try to slow the spread
Forestry Commission Wales staff are liaising with the owners of infected trees and have written to landowners offering guidance and urging them to take simple precautions to protect ash trees close to infected new plantings.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21648433
Isn't everything posted on QL irrelevant? I think it's horrible that kids are being strip searched, even if they are in juvenile detention.
ROFL TB
What the heck. Hang on a moment, I will go find some other irrelevant news and copy and paste it here as well.