British delinquents abused by officials

LONDON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Children in custody at youth offender facilities across Britain have been routinely abused by employees, a report said.

The Independent on Sunday reported that, based on a recently obtained report, the children's commissioner has acknowledged the existence of the illegal acts by workers at the facilities and deemed them "unacceptable."

"The use of violence and force to control and punish some of the most vulnerable children in society is unacceptable," the report said of the illicit acts.

Sir Al Aynsley-Green, a professor serving as British children's commissioner, said workers at the country's Young Offender Institutions and Secure Training Centers have used force to keep children in line.

Among the various forms of discipline used by those employees were repeated blows to the face and the twisting of limbs or fingers to ensure compliance.

The British newspaper said that, according to the official report, such violence was used on incarcerated children 3,036 times between 2005 and 2006.