The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care provides the perfect opportunity for banning the use of handcuffs on children in care, a campaign is urging.

The ‘Hope instead of Handcuffs’ campaign, led by Serenity Welfare, is holding a round-table event to discuss the alarming use of restraint against innocent children in the UK’s care sector.

“Handcuffs are frequently used on looked-after children, including during transportation between care settings, even though they have not committed nor have been accused of committing a crime. The practice is overlooked, unmonitored, unregulated, but rampant. The Hope Instead of Handcuffs campaign is working to ban the use of handcuffs on children unless there is a substantial risk of harm to the child,” said a statement from the campaign group.

Lead supporter and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Looked After Children and Care Leavers Steve McCabe MP will host the event on 20 July to discuss the issue. Also present will be campaign leader Emily Aklan, Chair of the Evidence Group of the Children’s Social Care Review Leon Feinstein, Lucy Johnston, Health and Social Affairs Editor at the Sunday Express and author and social campaigner Dr Phil Frampton.

The campaign highlights that restraint against children in care settings is increasing, despite its detrimental impact on their physical and mental wellbeing. The event aims to discuss how to tackle the use of restraint against children in care and how to support better vulnerable young people.

“As the MacAlister Independent Review of Children’s Social Care progresses, join us on as we discuss how and why restraint against children should be tackled, to ensure those who have been victims of it do not continue to fall through the gaps,” said the campaign.

There will be an opportunity to put questions to the panel during a Q and A session after the opening discussion. All those who wish to register their interest can do so here.