Mr. Teddy Taylor1asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement outlining the scope, the scale and the effectiveness of the policy for dealing with young offenders described as the short sharp shock treatment; how many young offenders have been subjected to this treatment; and if he will describe differences in the new treatment as compared to the treatment given to young offenders before the launching of the initiative.
§ Mr. MayhewInformation about the tougher regimes pilot project in the form of notes of guidance to staff is available in the Library. The project operates at New Hall and Send detention centres, which together provide 222 places. Between 21 April 1980 and 19 February 1981 about 1,150 offenders had served or were still serving their sentences in the two centres. Under the pilot project, work has been concentrated on the more physically demanding activities; physical education has been increased; parades and inspections have been increased and included with formal drill periods as separate activities in the timetable; time for association has been reduced; education, while being retained, has been reorganised to fit in with the new 363W regime; time for "lights out" has been brought forward; staff strengths and the supervision of inmates have been increased; and increased emphasis has been placed on a more sustained pace and on tidiness, discipline, care and attention to detail. Staff uniforms have been introduced at Send—they were already worn at New Hall. It is too early to pronounce on the effectiveness of the project, but an evaluation is in hand.