HMYOI Wetherby, a young offender institution with some extremely
challenging young people, had improved and become more stable
over the last year, according to Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector
of Prisons.
In particular, a year on from the last inspection, there was a
restored “sense of purpose and confidence” in the running of the
Keppel unit within the prison, a self-contained specialist
facility holding “some of the most challenging and vulnerable
young people currently held anywhere in a custodial setting.”
However, inspectors found, in the wider Wetherby prison there
were high levels of violence between boys and rising numbers of
assaults on staff. Bullying was also a problem.
HMYOI Wetherby and Keppel, in Yorkshire, held 260 boys aged
15 to 18 at the time of the 2017 inspection, with around 40 boys
in the Keppel unit. All custodial facilities for young people are
inspected annually.
The 2016 inspection had found “much to commend” at Wetherby but
also identified failings in safety and a failure to deliver an
acceptable and predictable daily routine. In 2017, inspectors
were reassured to find that the situation appeared to be more
stable. A recently appointed new governor was a steadying
influence, leading to a number of positive findings:
- The Keppel unit showed “clear evidence of improvement.”
- Overall, the number of boys exhibiting self-harming behaviour
had reduced since the last inspection.
- Inspectors also found that work to resettle boys at the end
of their sentences was a strength at Wetherby, with a good
understanding of boys’ needs and improved community partnerships
and use of release on temporary licence (ROTL) to support
resettlement work.
However, the 2017 report noted that the wider prison was still
not safe enough and reported levels of violence were high, with
increasing violence against staff. Inspectors also found that:
- The prison was unable to identify the full extent of bullying
and deliver proper support for boys who were bullied.
- While there was improvement in behaviour management
strategies, with more effort to incentivise boys, “the approach
to violence reduction in general was still not adequate.” In
particular, inspectors found that many approaches to security or
the use of segregation “lacked proportionality and were
needlessly restrictive”. They observed “an overbearing focus on
risk rather than the needs of the boys”.
- The wider prison operated a restricted daily routine and time
out of cell was insufficient. During the working day inspectors
found nearly half of boys in the wider Wetherby prison locked in
cells - though the situation was much better on Keppel.
- Inspectors also found that work to promote equality was weak.
Boys from a black and minority ethnic background reported a
“significantly worse experience of victimisation by other boys
and staff” but there was a lack of clarity at Wetherby on whether
racist abuse was being managed effectively.
Peter Clarke said:
“Overall we were more optimistic about Wetherby following this
inspection than we were after last year’s. Stability was more
evident and staff seemed to be recovering their confidence. The
governor had a good understanding of the challenges he faced and
was beginning the process of improvement. Our report highlights a
number of priorities, including work to tackle bullying, the
promotion of equality and ensuring boys spend their time out of
cell in constructive activity.”
