Use of force, restraint and restrictive practices in the children and young people secure estate
This policy framework sets out rules and guidance on the use of approved restraint techniques and restrictive physical interventions for staff at secure settings and escort providers in the Youth Custody Service (YCS).
Applies to England and Wales
Documents
Details
This framework establishes a clear, coherent and child-focused policy statement about the use of restraint and physical interventions by staff who work with children and young people who have been remanded or sentenced to custody by the Courts. It recognises that while every effort is made to reduce the likelihood that it is sometimes necessary for staff to physically intervene, there are some scenarios where staff have no other option to prevent violence or protect themselves or others from injury or serious harm through the use of restraint or physical intervention. It therefore sets out duties, rules and general guidance for staff in those scenarios.
The framework applies to all YCS secure settings where remanded and sentenced children and young people may be placed including under-18 Young Offender Institutions (YOI), Secure Training Centres (STC) and Secure Children’s Homes (SCH), as well as to escort providers responsible for the physical movement of children between secure settings and Courts.
To ensure that they are prepared for the response in such scenarios all members of staff must be trained to apply the local syllabus on restraint and physical intervention and understand the principles of law and the relevant Rules or Regulations which apply to their setting and how this applies to their practice.
The framework also provides rules and guidance about the effective and timely recording of incidents where restraint or physical intervention has been used, and the provision of post-incident care and support for staff and children and young people including the consideration and response to any safeguarding matters.
From the framework’s implementation date PSO 1600, guidance on use of force in prisons, and PSI 30/2015, amendments to PSO 1600, will cease to apply to under-18 YOI in the YCS.
This framework applies to all Use of Force incidents in youth custody, including any use of PAVA incapacitant spray (limited rollout authorised in certain sites from 2025). The PAVA operational guidance and its related Children’s Rights Impact Assessment summary outlines measures and considerations specifically around use of PAVA within youth custody. This additional operational guidance only applicable in public sector YOI settings where PAVA is authorised under the limited rollout.
Updates to this page
Published 17 August 2023
Last updated 13 August 2025
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Additional operational guidance on use of PAVA and related children's rights impact assessment added,
-
First published.
Details
This framework establishes a clear, coherent and child-focused policy statement about the use of restraint and physical interventions by staff who work with children and young people who have been remanded or sentenced to custody by the Courts. It recognises that while every effort is made to reduce the likelihood that it is sometimes necessary for staff to physically intervene, there are some scenarios where staff have no other option to prevent violence or protect themselves or others from injury or serious harm through the use of restraint or physical intervention. It therefore sets out duties, rules and general guidance for staff in those scenarios.
The framework applies to all YCS secure settings where remanded and sentenced children and young people may be placed including under-18 Young Offender Institutions (YOI), Secure Training Centres (STC) and Secure Children’s Homes (SCH), as well as to escort providers responsible for the physical movement of children between secure settings and Courts.
To ensure that they are prepared for the response in such scenarios all members of staff must be trained to apply the local syllabus on restraint and physical intervention and understand the principles of law and the relevant Rules or Regulations which apply to their setting and how this applies to their practice.
The framework also provides rules and guidance about the effective and timely recording of incidents where restraint or physical intervention has been used, and the provision of post-incident care and support for staff and children and young people including the consideration and response to any safeguarding matters.
From the framework’s implementation date PSO 1600, guidance on use of force in prisons, and PSI 30/2015, amendments to PSO 1600, will cease to apply to under-18 YOI in the YCS.
This framework applies to all Use of Force incidents in youth custody, including any use of PAVA incapacitant spray (limited rollout authorised in certain sites from 2025). The PAVA operational guidance and its related Children’s Rights Impact Assessment summary outlines measures and considerations specifically around use of PAVA within youth custody. This additional operational guidance only applicable in public sector YOI settings where PAVA is authorised under the limited rollout.
Updates to this page
Published 17 August 2023
Last updated 13 August 2025
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Additional operational guidance on use of PAVA and related children's rights impact assessment added,
-
First published.
Details
This framework establishes a clear, coherent and child-focused policy statement about the use of restraint and physical interventions by staff who work with children and young people who have been remanded or sentenced to custody by the Courts. It recognises that while every effort is made to reduce the likelihood that it is sometimes necessary for staff to physically intervene, there are some scenarios where staff have no other option to prevent violence or protect themselves or others from injury or serious harm through the use of restraint or physical intervention. It therefore sets out duties, rules and general guidance for staff in those scenarios.
The framework applies to all YCS secure settings where remanded and sentenced children and young people may be placed including under-18 Young Offender Institutions (YOI), Secure Training Centres (STC) and Secure Children’s Homes (SCH), as well as to escort providers responsible for the physical movement of children between secure settings and Courts.
To ensure that they are prepared for the response in such scenarios all members of staff must be trained to apply the local syllabus on restraint and physical intervention and understand the principles of law and the relevant Rules or Regulations which apply to their setting and how this applies to their practice.
The framework also provides rules and guidance about the effective and timely recording of incidents where restraint or physical intervention has been used, and the provision of post-incident care and support for staff and children and young people including the consideration and response to any safeguarding matters.
From the framework’s implementation date PSO 1600, guidance on use of force in prisons, and PSI 30/2015, amendments to PSO 1600, will cease to apply to under-18 YOI in the YCS.
This framework applies to all Use of Force incidents in youth custody, including any use of PAVA incapacitant spray (limited rollout authorised in certain sites from 2025). The PAVA operational guidance and its related Children’s Rights Impact Assessment summary outlines measures and considerations specifically around use of PAVA within youth custody. This additional operational guidance only applicable in public sector YOI settings where PAVA is authorised under the limited rollout.
Updates to this page
-
Additional operational guidance on use of PAVA and related children's rights impact assessment added,
-
First published.