14 young people were locked in time out against wishes (From Western Telegraph)

14 young people were locked in time out against wishes

12:00pm Saturday 20th October 2012 in News

All but one of the 15 young people interviewed in 2009 about the controversial use of a time-out room at Neyland’s Pupil Referral Unit were put in there against their wishes, according to a summary report sent to parents.

The Western Telegraph has obtained a copy of a summary review report which was sent to the parents of PRU pupils this summer.

The report was produced by a senior management review group set up by Dyfed-Powys Police and Pembrokeshire County Council.

The report states that all pupils spoken to acknowledge they had been put in the room because of their behaviour, but 15 of the 16 young people seen had been “placed in the time-out room against their wishes and locked into the room”.

However, the report also said that none of the young people or parents wanted to make a criminal complaint.

Some parents had previously complained to the PRU but felt their complaints had not been adequately answered or managed and the report also adds that “some parents said they felt too intimidated or worried about service provision to complain”.

The review found that parents, with one exception, were not aware that their child was locked in a room without consistent supervision or light.

The review found some young people felt they had benefited from their time there while others remained upset at their treatment.

Referring to the original 2009 investigation, the review group found that parents and children had not been shown all the evidence, such as CCTV, but this was shared during this review.

It also thought that police should have remained involved in the inquiry but no further evidence had been found that the CPS considered suitable for a criminal prosecution.

A council spokesman said: “The review summary was received by the executive of the Local Children Safeguarding Board and subsequently sent to the parents and young people on August 17th.”