Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Campbell of Alloway (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 13 January 2010.

Prisons: Search and Restraint

Question: May I, for once, rather support the Government? In this particular situation, where gangs of children have taken charge of our streets and our cities, it is no easy problem. We are not obviously dealing with it in the right way, but it is difficult to criticise at this time, unless anyone can suggest a way in which to deal with the gangs of children on our streets.

Answer: I am grateful to the noble Lord for his support. As the House will know, these are deeply difficult and sensitive issues. No one wants to punish children unnecessarily, but there are young people who need to be locked away for a while, as long as they are educated and trained and every effort is made to ensure that they do not reoffend when they come out. That is what we are trying to do. A huge effort on all sides is going into trying to deal with the difficult issue of young people in custody.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 716 c503
Session: 2009-10
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Body searches Pain Young offenders Restraint techniques Youth custody European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk