Charity mulls legal action after strip-search complaint is rejected

In October the Howard League for Penal Reform made a child protection complaint to Staffordshire County Council against the YOI about the use of forced and routine strip-searching of child prisoners at the prison. The issue came to light after a report by the chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers, drew attention to the treatment of children on arrival at Werrington.

Frances Crook, director of the Howard League, asked the council to conduct a child protection investigation but last month the council wrote back, saying it would take no further action as current strip-searching rules comply with Prison Service standards.

In a letter, Sally Rees, deputy corporate director at Staffordshire council, said: "Strip searching is a lawful and legitimate intervention deployed by Werrington and all other prisons nationally and we appreciate that this practice is subject to considerable debate."

Crook said the charity was considering what action it could take next. "It's possible that we may take legal action," she said. "If a family had done that to a child they would have stepped in but because it's custody these children are treated differently."

Crook said she felt Werrington YOI had failed in its duty of care. "If children are being abused there is legislation to be morally responsible to protect them," she said. "As far as we know it's the first time a child protection referral has been made against a prison and was meant to explore this. We're disappointed at the response."

Robert Simpson, deputy leader of the county council and cabinet member for children and lifelong learning said: "Staffordshire met with managers at Werrington and looked at a substantial amount of material in order to be satisfied that Werrington was acting within the law. It was concluded that the search was legal and proportionate and did not warrant further action."