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last mo.

PAVA Pepper Spray Approved for Use in Youth Prisons to Address Rising Violence

Specialist officers in England's youth offender institutions will deploy the spray under strict conditions starting this summer, with oversight and a 12-month review planned.

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The spray will be trialled in three YOIs for a year, beginning this summer

Overview

  • The Ministry of Justice has confirmed the rollout of PAVA synthetic pepper spray in youth offender institutions from summer 2025 to address escalating violence.
  • Assaults on staff in youth facilities rose by 25% in 2024, with rates 14 times higher than in adult prisons, prompting urgent safety measures.
  • Use of the spray will be restricted to serious incidents, with deployment limited to highly trained officers and reviewed by an independent panel and ministers after 12 months.
  • Inmates have increasingly weaponized everyday items like cutlery and screws, leading to severe staff injuries including fractures and puncture wounds.
  • The initiative is part of a broader strategy that includes trials of Tasers and a review of body armour to enhance staff safety and support rehabilitation efforts.