No prosecution over Gareth Myatt’s death

There will be no prosecution over the death of 15-year-old Gareth Myatt, who died in 2004 after being restrained by staff at a private secure training centre, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced.

“There is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction against any individual or organisation,” said the CPS. An inquest into the death will now follow.

When he died Myatt had just started a 12 month sentence at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre near Rugby, run by Rebound, part of security company Group 4.

Charities campaigning on children in custody condemned the decision not to prosecute.

Helen Shaw, co-director of INQUEST said Myatt’s death raises questions about “potentially lethal methods of restraint being used on children”.

The inquest must be “thorough and far reaching” so that “the full facts surrounding his death are subject to proper public scrutiny,” added Shaw.

Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform said:  “Private companies that are prepared to make a profit out of locking up young children should be held to account when a child dies whilst being restrained by their staff.”