Stop the use of PAVA spray on children in prison
Stop the use of PAVA spray on children in prison
Latest: Jan. 19, 2026
Case Outcome
Taking the government to court is never easy and, unfortunately, today we learned that our claim has been dismissed. This is a deeply frustrating outcome, and I know that our disappointment will be s…
What is the campaign?
The Howard League for Penal Reform needs your help. We are a small charity, preparing to take legal action against the government because it has decided to allow PAVA spray to be used against children in prison.
PAVA is a chemical irritant spray that can cause severe pain when sprayed in the eyes. Although it is classified as a prohibited weapon under the Firearms Act 1968, it has been authorised for use in prisons holding men. Now ministers have decided to extend the powers so that prison staff can spray it at children as well.
We have launched a campaign to challenge this decision and protect children from harm.
We have begun proceedings in the High Court to challenge this move and protect children from harm. On 22 July 2025, our lawyers invited the court to grant permission for a judicial review to consider the lawfulness of the government’s decision.
Why does this matter?
This decision makes children less safe.
We already know that PAVA spray is often used improperly and unsafely in adult prisons. This would be catastrophic in prisons holding children, where children already experience frequent use of force.
When PAVA spray was piloted in prisons holding adults, the government’s own evaluation showed that it did nothing to reduce violence and it undermined trust between people living and working there. This would be especially harmful in prisons holding children, where positive relationships are essential to ensure that children are safeguarded and supported.
Children in custody are amongst the most vulnerable in our society. What does it say about a system when its leaders feel they need the power to spray chemicals in the eyes of children?
Who does this affect?
The government’s decision authorises the use of PAVA spray in young offender institutions, which hold boys as young as 15. Of these children, about 40% are being held on remand, which means that they are either awaiting trial or sentence. Almost three quarters of children who are remanded to custody do not end up receiving a custodial sentence.
The number of children from racialised minorities in prison is disproportionately high, and there are already concerns about the high levels of force used against them by staff. Introducing PAVA spray will make matters worse; official statistics for prisons holding men indicate that Black men are more likely to be sprayed than their peers.
Children with disabilities are often subjected to the use of force in prison. They too are at risk if the government’s decision is not challenged.
What will we use the money for?
Your contribution will not only help us to proceed with a legal challenge to stop the introduction of PAVA spray in children’s prisons; it will support our work with parliamentarians, the media and other stakeholders to raise the profile of the campaign and push for change.
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The Howard League for Penal Reform
Jan. 19, 2026
Case Outcome
Taking the government to court is never easy and, unfortunately, today we learned that our claim has been dismissed. This is a deeply frustrating outcome, and I know that our disappointment will be shared by the many individuals and organisations who have stood alongside us in opposing this policy.
But this is not the end. We remain opposed to the use of PAVA spray against children, and our work on this issue will continue. It must.
This judicial review was focused squarely on the way in which the government reached its decision, not the rights or wrongs of the decision – and not what the impact might be on children, which is what we are most concerned about.
At the hearing last month, the judge was told that the decision had been “finely balanced”, due to the risk and controversial nature of the use of PAVA spray with children. The judge acknowledged that the Ministry of Justice did not expect the introduction of PAVA spray to reduce overall levels of violence and harm in prisons holding children, and that it may in fact cause a “long term escalation and rising tenor of violent behaviour”. However, officials believed that it had the potential to prevent the infliction of immediate and serious harm/violence.
The judge seems to have taken comfort from a reassurance offered by the government that PAVA spray will be used extremely rarely and as a last resort. But we are already receiving calls from children who have been affected. A strong theme is developing – that, far from being a last resort, PAVA spray has already become a normalised response to incidents of violence.
And the reality is that this awful policy could have been even worse. We were not alone in opposing the government’s decision, and the strength of opposition was so significant that it forced the government to implement additional safeguards. This is why PAVA spray has been authorised for use by a small number of highly trained officers, and not all staff as was originally proposed.
We will keep going. We will continue to support children and young people who are affected by this policy. We will be monitoring its use and governance closely, and we will not hesitate to take further action if necessary. Thank you for your support and generous donations. We could not do this without you. Please visit our website and sign up to our email updates to stay informed about our ongoing work.
The Howard League for Penal Reform
Jan. 6, 2026
Case Update
Last month, we were in the High Court challenging the government’s decision to authorise PAVA spray for use against children in prison in England.
The Court heard two days of submissions, including our evidence that:
- Far from making young offender institutions (YOIs) safer for children and staff, the introduction of PAVA spray is likely to increase harm and violence, both in the immediate term and in the future;
- Black children, Muslim children and children with disabilities are likely to be particularly adversely affected by the decision, as evidenced in the government’s own Equality Impact Assessment and Child Rights Impact Assessment;
- the government failed to have sufficient regard to the best interests of the welfare of children when making its decision.
You can read more about the case by visiting our website and viewing our latest blog, written by our Legal Director.
The judge has indicated he hopes to give judgment before Christmas. With PAVA already reportedly used in Werrington and Feltham A, this is a live and urgent issue.
Challenging the government in court is difficult and costly, and we could not have come this far without the support from our members, donors and supporters – thank you
The Howard League for Penal Reform
Dec. 7, 2025
High Court challenge - this week!
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Howard League will be in the High Court to challenge the government's shocking decision to allow officers to use PAVA spray, a prohibited weapon under the Firearms Act, in three young offender institutions: Feltham A, Werrington and Wetherby.
Thank you to all of this who have supported us, we will keep you updated on our progress.
Your contribution will not only help us to cover the risk of us having to pay the government's legal costs in the event that we don't win in court, but any amount raised beyond our target will support our continued work with parliamentarians, the media and other stakeholders to raise the profile of the campaign and push for change.
The Howard League for Penal Reform
Sept. 5, 2025
PERMISSION GRANTED!
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