'Restraint' review call over death

Adam Rickwood became the youngest person in Britain to die in custody after he killed himself at a privately-run facility in 2004.

The teenager hanged himself with his shoelaces while on remand at the Hassockfield Secure Training Centre in County Durham. An inquest jury returned a verdict of suicide following a month-long hearing into the circumstances surrounding the death.

The court heard how hours before his death he had been restrained by staff using a controversial "nose distraction technique" which involved striking him in the face. The blow left his face "covered in blood" and Adam said he felt his nose had been broken, according to the report.

A long-awaited investigation by the Lancashire Safeguarding Children Board made a number of recommendations including suggesting pain distraction techniques be reviewed "as a matter of urgency". The study also called for a national review of the use of restraint at secure units combined with a period of open consultation.

The inquest at Chester-le-Street Magistrates' Court earlier this year heard Adam had written to his mother, Carol Pounder, saying he would kill himself if he was not taken out of the unit.

The teenager had been sent to the centre on remand, on July 10 2004 and died just over a month later despite repeatedly telling his mother of his fears. He suffered from mental health problems, drink and drug abuse, suicidal tendencies and a history of self harming, the inquest heard.

Among the recommendations in the report it was suggested: "That all 'pain distraction' techniques used on children be reviewed as a matter of urgency.

"The use of restraint in the whole of the secure estate is reviewed nationally and that any proposed changes made to the current system are subject to a period of open consultation."

Authors also recommended children aged under 16 should be remanded into secure units within 50 miles of their home.