The Howard League for Penal Reform brought a judicial review challenging the Removal from Association policy in place at Oakhill Secure Training Centre, which accommodates children and young people between 12 and 19 years old who are serving a custodial sentence or who are remanded to custody. Oakhill is operated by G4S Care and Justice Services (G4S), under a contract with the Secretary of State for Justice. The Howard League argued that the Removal from Association policy was unlawful, as it told staff at Oakhill that a child who is removed from association could be placed alone in their room for more than 3 hours (during normal waking hours) in a 24-hour period, in breach of Rule 36(3) of the Secure Training Centre Rules 1998. After the High Court granted the Howard League permission to bring the judicial review, the Secretary of State for Justice conceded the claim, and directed G4S to review the Removal from Association policy by the end of October 2025, and in the interim to update the policy and communicate to staff that children could not be placed alone in their room for more than 3 hours.
Ayesha Christie acted for The Howard League for Penal Reform.