Batons 'could be used on young'

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Officers are only allowed to use them on those aged 18 and over but that could change when ministers consider policy changes later this year.

The news came as the Prison Officers Association (POA) called for greater protection from a rising number of assaults on its members by children.

Glyn Travis, assistant general secretary of the POA, said there was a need for staff at young offenders institutions (YOIs) to protect themselves.

Officers had sustained fractured bones, had an ear bitten off and a pen shoved into the face in assaults on them by children, he said.

He said assaults on staff had risen "well in excess of 100%" over the past three years.

Mr Travis added there was a "serious problem" with the criminal justice system and if staff were allowed to carry the batons, "juveniles will think twice about picking up a pool cue".

But critics have attacked the proposed move, saying it would provoke more violence.

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said the idea was "dangerous".

She said: "We want to create a culture and an environment where (young offenders) learn to act responsibly; where they learn to respect adults; where they learn to have a professional relationship with people, and the problem is if you're armed then you're creating a situation where violence can happen again." She said the problem lay in misunderstandings between prisoners and staff and that the proposals could fuel violence.