CONCERNS about allowing PAVA incapacitant spray to be used against incarcerated children do not take into account the lack of resources available to quell violence in jails, the Prison Officers Association (POA) said today.

This followed a Ministry of Justice announcement that officers in young offender institutions will start using synthetic pepper spray from this summer in a bid to combat rising violence by inmates.

The Howard League for Penal Reform said that the government’s decision to introduce the chemical irritant amounted to a “serious escalation” in the force permitted to be used against minors.

Chief executive Andrea Coomber KC said: “There is too much violence in prisons holding children, but this is a direct consequence of a failing system that keeps boys as young as 15 locked in their cells for up to 23 hours a day without meaningful access to education or social interaction.  

“It reflects a profound failure on the part of those responsible for children in custody that they would consider introducing weapons in the name of safety. The Howard League will take whatever steps necessary, including legal action, to challenge this decision. 

“Instead of arming staff, the way to reduce violence 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. Prison is no place for a child.”

POA national chairman Mark Fairhurst said: “The Howard League and those that object to staff being protected at work need to realise that an irritant is a non-lethal way to quell violence, whereas a home-made knife, regularly used by young prisoners to attack staff and rival gangs, is a lethal weapon that puts everyone at risk.

“I am sure every parent would agree that when their child is being stabbed and stamped on, which is a regular occurrence in our youth prisons, they would want a prison officer to use whatever resources they have to save that life.

“At the moment, staff have zero resources to quell or deter violence.  

“Violence in our youth prisons will not be tolerated and I applaud this government for making the right decision to protect everyone in our youth jails.”

The MoJ said that PAVA spray would be made available “in limited circumstances” to a select number of specialist staff at the three public-sector young offender institutions holding under-18s — Werrington, Wetherby and Feltham A.