Lynne Featherstone MP, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson, responding to an independent investigation into the treatment of children in prison, led by Lord Carlile, said:

“The amount of force being used to restrain children in custody highlighted by this report is unacceptable.

“The training of staff should be urgently reviewed to so that they have the skills which means they do not have to rely on physical restraint to the same degree in the future.

“The report highlights why many children currently in secure accommodation would be better undergoing rehabilitation outside of what all too often amount to colleges of crime.”