The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) today published his response to Ofsted’s proposals for revisions to the framework for inspecting Secure Training Centres (STCs).
PPO appreciates the commitment by Ofsted to give consideration to the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child while undertaking inspections and the reference made to the UN Convention against Torture in the introduction to the consultation. A rights based approach to inspection should serve to strengthen human rights protection within STCs.
However, it is of concern that, despite this human rights commitment, there is no further reference to human rights within the inspection framework and only one reference to equality. It is unclear how, for example, an inspection framework can judge the safety of young people, particularly the use of force and restraint, without a consideration of the right to life and prohibition on torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. PPO encourages Ofsted to clearly articulate the commitment to a rights based approach to inspection by directly referencing human rights and equality throughout the inspection framework.
Ofsted’s consultation document can be found here.