Spit hoods being used at alarming rate in youth detention
Anti-spit masks are being used on some of the South Australia's youngest detainees at an alarming rate.
They are designed to stop workers being exposed to blood and other fluids from prisoners.
The hoods, purchased from a UK-based company, are being used in Adelaide's youth training centres.
New figures obtained by 7 News show they have been used 47 times since July 2015.
The Council for Civil Liberties' Claire O'Connor said that number is far too high.
"It would have to be degrading… it certainly wouldn't make them feel better," she said.
"It did look like breathing was difficult it would also be humiliating."
The use of similar hoods in the Northern Territory's juvenile justice system prompted a royal commission.
But SA Corrections Department spokeswoman Katherine Hawkins said the masks cannot be compared to those in the NT.
"They are a very light weight material very easy to use, very easy to remove, they don't impair the young persons vision at any time," she said.
The state government says the masks are only used as a last resort and at this stage, there are no plans to ban them.
But civil libertarian Ms O'Connor wants a thorough investigation.
"If there has been such a use in the past 18 months then the state needs to know," she said.
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