Prisons: Restraint Equipment

Ministry of Justice written question – answered at on 20 June 2018.

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Photo of Gordon Henderson Gordon Henderson Conservative, Sittingbourne and Sheppey

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timetable is for rolling out (a) Pava pepper spray and (b) rigid police-style handcuffs across the prison estate.

Photo of Rory Stewart Rory Stewart The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice

Our hardworking prison officers must have the tools to do their jobs and that’s why we’re rolling out body worn cameras, ‘police-style’ restraints, and trialling pepper spray. We keep a close eye on the threats officers face to make sure they have what they need.

We are currently piloting PAVA Spray, this will inform any decision on the further issue of PAVA to prison officers.

Rigid Bar Handcuffs will be issued to prisons to replace the current ratchet cuffs. This will happen over 18 – 36 months in order to ensure staff are fully trained on how to use them.

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