A temporary ban on the use of sharp knives is introduced in Den Hey-Acker youth prison in Breda. The reason for this measure, among other things, is the fatal stabbing in the youth prison last month. The Judicial Institutions Agency (DJI) announced these and other measures on Monday.
“When you think about the ban, you have to think of the knives with which meat or vegetables are cut during cooking activities,” reports the Judicial Institutions Agency (DJI). The ban also applies in all other juvenile detention centers. “When young people cook, this will now be done with pre-sliced meat and vegetables. The peelers to peel fruit and potatoes are replaced by peelers.”
The ban on the use of sharp knives is one of the measures taken after the fatal stabbing and after ‘previous serious incidents’. A knife to lubricate a sandwich will remain available. “The measure to ban sharp knives will take at least half a year,” says the DJI.
Drones deployed
Another measure announced on Monday is the use of drones to prevent the introduction of prohibited items. For quite some time, many prohibited items have been present within the institutions, the DJI says, and that must now be countered more strongly. Drones, among other things, should help with this.
The service also announces, among other things, that the group approach that has been common for years in juvenile prisons will be examined. This is because of ‘the hardening’ of the young people who are in juvenile detention centers. In recent years, groups of about eight to ten young people have been working. It will be examined whether this approach is still desirable and effective.
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