Report finds denial of face-to-face interactions has had ‘disturbing consequences’
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Social distancing measures in youth prisons have had “disturbing consequences”, with children denied face-to-face interaction with families and friends, as well as visits from social workers, youth offending staff or lawyers, a report has found.
Children incarcerated at England’s three secure training centres, which look after 10- to 17-year-olds, are supposed to receive 30 hours of education and training a week, following a school-day timetable. But during the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has allowed institutions to reduce the minimum amount of time a child must be out of their room in each 24-hour period from 14 hours to just 1.5 hours.
