Pepper Spray permitted to be used in Young Offenders prisons

[arista]

[The government has authorised the
use of a synthetic pepper spray
on young people in England's three
young offender institutions (YOI)
against the advice of its
youth justice agency.]

4 hours ago



I agree with this,
These Criminal Punks
must obey the law.

It is an effective tool to use.


[Children as young as 15 face being
incapacitated with pepper spray
after Shabana Mahmood MP on
Thursday authorised its use at young
offender institutions [YOIs].
The justice secretary for the first time signed
off the use of Pava spray,
a synthetic form of pepper spray,
for use across three of the four YOIs
in England and Wales.

The plan, first reported by the Guardian
and announced in parliament,
has dismayed prison reformers,
who say it will create further
divisions between staff and minors
in their care. The Howard League for
Penal Reform said it might challenge
the decision in the courts.

In a written statement,
Mahmood told MPs: “I have decided
to authorise the issuing of Pava
to a specially trained and selected group
of staff in the three public sector YOIs
(Feltham A, Werrington and Wetherby)
for a 12-month period.]


https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/24/justice-secretary-pepper-spray-young-offender-institutions-england-wales

[user104658]

I can see why it could be used in extreme circumstances e.g. to break up extreme violence where it's riskier (for everyone involved) to get physically involved in other ways -- my issue with it though, is that I just don't trust the people working in these institutions not to abuse their position of power and use it when it's not necessary, and probably constantly at least use it as a threat.

[Livia]

I have no problem with this. Pepper spray, taser, either works for me. Tiresome to know people are more worried about the safety of criminals than the people charged with guarding them.

[bots]

i get a bit paranoid with these type of changes. Really, why not put a collar on each inmate and apply electric shocks to ensure they behave. Where does it stop.

Don't get me wrong, i don't like violence in prisons, but measures need to be controlled

[arista]

i get a bit paranoid with these type of changes. Really, why not put a collar on each inmate and apply electric shocks to ensure they behave. Where does it stop.

Don't get me wrong, i don't like violence in prisons, but measures need to be controlled



Yes that could work
is it legal, though?

[Maru]

It's not fun for the people using it either as it effects them as well. Someone died here because OC spray was released in a corridor while they were handling someone and it upset an unknown heart condition. He was in his 20s, I think.

It's all about managing risk. Stopping fights in their tracks quicker means less people are able to get hurt. That works both ways.

[arista]

It's not fun for the people using it either as it effects them as well. Someone died here because OC spray was released in a corridor while they were handling someone and it upset an unknown heart condition. He was in his 20s, I think.

It's all about managing risk. Stopping fights in their tracks quicker means less people are able to get hurt. That works both ways.


Yes, but in America, they spray more each time,
than UK Police or Prison Staff

[Maru]

Yes, but in America, they spray more each time,
than UK Police or Prison Staff

Have neard heard of that. Some people have higher tolerance, but once it's used it generally works on most people. It sucks to use because it gets into the eyes and lungs of everyone nearby and can make things more difficult as effects last a bit. We can carry it here in the US I believe below a certain concentration.