Minister for Sentencing, Human Rights and Technology (): In April 2025, the then
Lord Chancellor announced the authorisation of PAVA spray for use
by a specially trained and selected group of staff in the three
public sector Young Offender Institutions (YOIs): HMYOI Feltham
A, HMYOI Werrington and HMYOI Wetherby. This authorisation was
granted for a period of 12 months and was accompanied by enhanced
oversight, monitoring and evaluation arrangements.
The introduction of PAVA in the YOIs was intended to provide
staff with an additional means of responding to the most serious
incidents of violence, where its use is necessary, proportionate
and appropriate to prevent serious harm to young people in
custody or staff. It remains authorised only as a measure of last
resort. As the only distance-based tactical option available to
specially trained staff in these settings, PAVA provides an
important capability to respond to serious violence rapidly to
reduce the risk of injury to staff and young people.
Violence within the children and young people's secure estate
continues to present significant challenges. While work continues
to improve safety, stability and outcomes for young people in
custody, staff must be equipped to respond effectively to the
most serious and dangerous incidents.
Having considered the available evidence, including operational
experience, monitoring data and ongoing evaluation of the use of
PAVA in YOIs, during recess agreement has been reached across
Government to extend the authorisation for a further 12 months in
the three public sector YOIs and I wrote on 11 August to the
Justice Select Committee and the Justice and Home Affairs
Committee to inform them of my decision. I am making this
statement today to ensure all colleagues are aware.
This extension will provide further time to gather evidence on
the effectiveness, appropriateness and impact of PAVA in youth
settings. Throughout the extension period, every incident
involving the drawing or use of PAVA will continue to be reviewed
and evaluated as part of established oversight arrangements
including ongoing monitoring its use and impacts on children with
protected characteristics.
Data and emerging trends will be subject to ongoing scrutiny
through existing governance processes, including oversight by the
Independent Restraint Review Panel. An independent expert will
continue to monitor the use of PAVA and provide advice on its
operation, impact and any issues relating to proportionality.
Over the extension period, NHS England data and evidence relating
to children on whom PAVA is used in the three public sector YOIs
will be incorporated into the evidence gathered by the Youth
Custody Service. This will help strengthen the evidence base and
inform assessment of any health impacts, with input from the
Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England; any impacts
on the emotional and behavioural wellbeing of children, including
any longer-term implications as they develop into adulthood; and
the impacts on children with protected characteristics and other
vulnerable groups.
Ministers will continue to receive regular reporting on the use
of PAVA, including its effectiveness, any disproportionate
impacts identified, and the actions being taken in response.
Our long-term ambition is to significantly reduce the use of
force across the youth secure estate. To achieve this, we must
continue to bring down levels of violence across the estate.
This is a key objective of the Youth Custody Transformation Plan,
which is due to be published in the coming months. Alongside
this, we will continue to improve standards for children in
custody.
