Thread by @catrubens

Pleased to speak to @bbcsoutheast about the experiences of my clients Sam & Jacob who were subjected to mechanical restraints at an autism specialist school.

Story here from 1:17

bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod…

@ICARSBanRandS
@CBFdn
@PABSScot

Mechanical restraint chairs used in this manner are inhumane, degrading & traumatic for children.

@shakespeare_d

Fully support #harryslaw

Kent County Council admitted it failed to consider less restrictive options than #restraint.

The boys received an apology & £40,000 damages each for false imprisonment and pain and suffering.

#humanrights
@LeighDay_Law

@LeighDay_Law In my view, these kind of restraints are not compatible with articles 3, 5 & 8 ECHR - that's what we argued in the legal case.

Restraints are still being used against children with #SEND up & down the UK. See the 2019 ^ 2020 reports from @CBFdn & @Pabss which surveyed families affected

challengingbehaviour.org.uk/news/reducing-…

This is a pressing human rights issue. The DfE @educationgovuk needs to take urgent action to reduce the use of restraint against #autistic & learning disabled children.

@theRRNetwork

Also thanks to the indomitable @TorButlerCole for acting as Counsel

And also, a plug for the #HumanRightsAct under which we could argue inhumane & degrading treatment, deprivation of liberty & failures to investigate.

And the Legal Aid Agency which funds cases like this.