The use of highly-controversial spit hoods on youth detainees will be abolished throughout Australia after the SA Government — the only jurisdiction to still use the device — pledged to ban their use following a damning report by the state's ombudsman.

Key points: SA's ombudsman investigated the use of spit hoods after a Four Corners report featuring their use in the NT

SA's ombudsman investigated the use of spit hoods after a Four Corners report featuring their use in the NT Spit hoods are used to protect corrections workers from spitting or biting

Spit hoods are used to protect corrections workers from spitting or biting The State Government has promised to ban them by June 2020

The report detailed several instances where the spit hood had been used, including on a 13-year-old girl at Adelaide Youth Training Centre (AYTC).

It said she was pinned to the ground face down by five staff members, handcuffed and forced into the spit hood after she asked to stay out of her cell for an extra 30 minutes.

"A dispute over bedtime should not result in a 13-year-old child being pinned to the floor and handcuffed," ombudsman Wayne Lines said.

"At the very least, that child's behaviour did not present an immediate threat to the safety of others.

"I have no doubt that the application of a spit hood is an inherently traumatic event for the child or young person involved."

Mr Lines found South Australia's use of spit hoods was "out of step" with the rest of the nation, was "unreasonable and unjust" and risked contravening international human rights standards.

Investigation sparked by Four Corners report

Spit hoods have been used in the state's only youth detention facility — AYTC in Cavan — 57 times between October 2016 and June 2019.

The type of spit hood used at the Adelaide Youth Training Centre. ( Supplied: Ombudsman SA )

One child at the facility was made to wear a spit hood 19 times within nine months.

Mr Lines said his investigation was triggered by a 2016 Four Corners report featuring the use of spit hoods on Northern Territory youth detainees which led to a royal commission into the Northern Territory's youth detention system.

The type of spit hood used at the AYTC was introduced in 2017.

"Children thrash about at the sight of the implement; some appear to be taken by surprise as it passes over their eyes; many appear to be crying when it is finally removed," Mr Lines said.

"[This] appears to be out of step with most other Australian jurisdictions and inconsistent with international best practice, which generally prohibits the use of force against children and young people unless necessary to prevent a risk of injury or serious property damage.

"All other states and territories have banned the use of spit hoods or otherwise have never made use of the implements."

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 2 minutes 20 seconds 2 m 20 s A child detainee has a spit hood placed on him after struggling against guards. ( ABC News )

Ombudsman concerned about the use of force

The AYTC is run by SA's Department of Human Services, which has approved the use of spit hoods as a kind of mechanical restraint for use on children and young people.

However, it prohibits their use to punish a child or young person, or in circumstances that would contravene their rights under the Charter of Rights for Youths Detained in Training Centres.

"I make it clear that I am not suggesting that staff acted unlawfully on any of the occasions described in this report," Mr Lines wrote in his investigation.

"There is, however, a question of whether some of the practices depicted in the CCTV footage served to escalate, rather than de-escalate, incidents of misbehaviour.

"All but one incident reviewed by my investigation involved a child being pinned to the floor by several members of staff.

"One incident involved a child being held and handcuffed in the prone position for a cumulative period of 26 minutes."

He said restraining a person in the prone position brought about a risk of asphyxiation — a practice expressly prohibited within South Australia's disability sector.

Mr Lines said he was also concerned by the use of force against young detainees and said while their use had been in decline, with one incident reported in the first quarter of 2019 compared to 12 in the final quarter of 2017, he called for the use of spit hoods to be banned by September next year.

Government to adopt recommendations

The State Government has promised to adopt his recommendation by September 2020.

Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink told the ABC while spit hoods were banned in other jurisdictions in 2016, she did not ban their use earlier because she believed they were still "necessary".

"The use of spit hoods is a necessary part of practice to ensure the safety of staff, particularly in a crisis," she said.

"We're working towards best practice, I think it would be a difficult thing for the staff particular if we were to ban them straight away.

"The purpose of spit hoods has been to protect workers from bloodborne diseases … they are only used under very specific circumstances and we are working towards banning them completely."

She said while she was concerned about instances raised in the report, they were often needed to keep staff members at youth detention centres safe.

"There have been staff who have been out on WorkCover following some of these instances so it's always a balancing act," she said.

The Adelaide Youth Training Centre in the industrial suburb of Cavan. ( ABC News )

Youth Justice director Rohan Bennett said he was also concerned by the incidents he had seen in the Ombudsman's report.

"Part of it is my concern for the young people because they have such significant trauma histories, part of it is because they're reaction to their circumstances is so extreme and part of my concern is for my staff," he said.

"The use of spit hoods has been part of the way we have safely managed young people, it's not intended to be dehumanising.

"It's probably the most supportive way to protect staff and young people at the same time."

Ms Lensink said the State Government would also review the use of force and isolation rooms at the Adelaide Youth Training Centre, which was also criticised in the report.

The Guardian for Children and Young People in Care Penny Wright welcomed the report and the State Government's plan to ban them.

"As described in the report, the use of spit hoods is traumatising," the former Greens senator said.

"All children and young people detained within the training centre should be treated with respect and dignity and the use of force and restraints should only be used when absolutely necessary."

