A 15-YEAR-old boy was chained to the bars of a court window just days after security staff were ordered by the Home Office to change their policy on shackling prisoners, it was claimed today.

The boy was allegedly chained to an older prisoner as he waited at Rossendale Magistrates' Court for transfer to a young offenders' institution.

Now Group Four, the security firm in charge of moving prisoners between jails and courts, could face penalties and individual officers could be disciplined.

The alleged breach of Home Office rules follows a meeting at the Rawtenstall court between the Home Office, Group Four, the magistrates clerks' office and County Coun David Baron, a court lay visitor, who exposed the practice of chaining prisoners to windows and radiators at the court building.

County Coun Baron and magistrates court staff were assured that the practice would stop and prisoners would be kept in a prison van rather than insecure court rooms as they waited for their hearing. But solicitor Keith Pilkington, who represents the boy, found him chained to the window after his court appearance as he awaited transfer to Lancaster Farms. Mr Pilkington said: "This is totally unacceptable and is a breach of Home Office regulations."

County Coun Baron has now reported the breach to the Home Office representative who attended the meeting. Coun Baron said: "He was absolutely appalled. He said the Home Office would be looking for penalties from Group Four and for disciplinary action against the people responsible."

Coun Baron said Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson had taken the matter up with Prisons Minister Geoffrey Hoon and he was waiting for his reply.

He added: "Group Four were given the most explicit instruction that the practice of chaining prisoners to windows and radiators must never happen again. There can have been no possible doubt about it."

A spokesman for Group 4 said: "We are investigating the situation. We have previously said and reported that the facilities at the magistrates court are totally inadequate. This has been brought to the attention of officers of the court and the prison service. We have requested additional resources to make improvements and at this stage we have has no response."

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