Pava spray authorised at young offender institutions

Children as young as 15 could be incapacitated with pepper spray after Shabana Mahmood yesterday authorised its use at young offender institutions.

- Rajeev Syal

The justice secretary signed off on the use of Pava spray, a synthetic form of pepper spray, at three of the five young offender institutions (YOIs) in England and Wales.

The plan, first reported by the Guardian and announced in parliament, has dismayed prison reformers, who say it will create further divisions between staff and minors in their care. The Howard League for Penal Reform said it might challenge the decision in the courts.

In a written statement, Mahmood told MPs: "I have decided to authorise the issuing of Pava to a specially trained and selected group of staff in the three public sector YOIs (Feltham A, Werrington and Wetherby) for a 12-month period. This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but I am clear that this vital measure is needed to urgently prioritise safety."

Squirted from a canister, Pava (pelargonic acid vanillylamide) spray causes searing pain to the eyes for about 40 minutes and a burning sensation to the skin.