Violence and self-harm in youth custody rise to record high

The use of restraint, number of assaults, and levels of self-harm among young people in custody have all risen to a new high despite ongoing efforts to improve safety, it has emerged. Annual statistics published by the Youth Justice Board and Ministry of Justice show that in 2016/17 there were a total of 4,527 incidents of physical restraint – compared with 4,315 in 2015/16 – a rise of 4.9 per cent. The 2016/17 figure equates to a restraint rate of 32.1 per 100 young people held in custody – the highest figure on record. Read more.