Staffing problems meant far too many boys were locked up in cells
nearly all day in young offender institutions, according to an
annual report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons on the experiences of
detained children aged 12 to 18.
Though the numbers who had felt unsafe in YOIs had fallen from a
record high level in 2015–16, surveys in 2016–17 still found
almost 40% had felt unsafe. Children in secure training centres
(STCs), home to a larger number of under-16s, generally felt
safer than those in YOIs but a fifth said they had no-one to turn
to if they had a problem.
And in 2016–17, across both types of custody, there were
disproportionate numbers of black and minority ethnic children,
and children from Gypsy, Romany or Traveller communities,
compared to their representation in the general
population. Children with disabilities and mental and
emotional health problems, and with backgrounds in local
authority care, were also held in high numbers.
The report – Children in Custody 2016–17
– summarised findings of surveys distributed in HMIP
inspections in the year. A total of 720 children completed the
surveys. In his foreword, Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of
Prisons, recalled that in February 2017 he had warned ministers
that none of the establishments holding children were judged in
inspections to be safe and the speed of the decline in safety was
“extraordinary”.
In 2016–17, Mr Clarke added, “the impact of staffing constraints
appears to have been more keenly felt by children this year. In
YOIs...we have found far too many boys being locked in their
cells for more than of 22 hours each day, with staff struggling
to manage the complexities of regimes where some boys can only be
allowed out of their cells while others are locked up. Too often
in STCs, we found that staff were being redeployed from their
assigned unit to cover gaps elsewhere in the centre. More than a
fifth of children in STCs said they had no one to turn to if they
had a problem, meaning that many vulnerable children with complex
needs were trying to manage their problems without support.”
Overall, the numbers of children in custody has fallen by 70%
since 2006–07 and the number of girls continues to fall – though
Mr Clarke said it was important their specific needs were not
overlooked.
Among key findings:
- · Nearly half
(49%) of children in STCs were from a black or other minority
ethnic background. 12% said they were Muslim and 10% were from a
Gypsy, Romany or Traveller background.
-
· More than one in five
children (22%) reported feeling unsafe at some point since
arriving at the STC.
In YOIs:
-
Nearly half (48%) of boys identified
themselves as being from a black or minority ethnic background.
Around one-fifth (22%) were Muslim and the proportion of boys
who had experienced local authority care was 42%.
Almost one-fifth (19%) of boys reported having a
disability.
-
39% of boys said they had felt unsafe, a
fall on last year’s figure of 46%.
-
There was a significant fall in the
proportion of boys who said they could have a shower every day
(71% compared with 88% in 2015–16) and the proportion who could
use the phone every day had fallen significantly from 80% to
68%.
Mr Clarke said:
“Last year, I invited those with the responsibility to develop
and improve policy to take our findings seriously. I trust that
the realignment of responsibilities between the Youth Justice
Board, the Ministry of Justice commissioners of services and the
new Youth Custody Service within HM Prison and Probation Service
will lead to improvement, and that the process of restructuring
and reform will not detract from the urgent need for an effective
operational response to the issues raised in this report. The
need for this to be the case has actually increased, particularly
when it comes to improving both the perceptions and the reality
of safety. Until this is addressed, the broader objectives of
delivering education, training and creating a rehabilitative
environment will not be achieved.”
- ENDS -
Notes to Editors:
- A copy of the report, published on Wednesday 23 November, can
be found at http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/
- This is the 13th report commissioned by and published jointly
with the Youth Justice Board (YJB). It details the perceptions of
custody of 12 to 18-year-olds held in young offender institutions
across England and Wales. It provides an
opportunity to compare young people’s perceptions across
establishments and over time. A total of 720 children returned
questionnaires.
- The report covered the experiences of boys in five male YOI
establishments and in a separate specialist unit for boys
considered to be vulnerable (the Keppel Unit) within HMYOI
Wetherby.
- The report also covers children (mostly aged 15 to 17) held
in three secure training centres in England. This includes a
small number of girls.
- The report does not cover secure children’s homes, a third
type of custody establishment.
- Some children are detained in YOIs and STCs past their
eighteenth birthday. Our report continues to refer to all people
held in these places of detention, regardless of age, as
children.
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate,
inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and
treatment, and promote positive outcomes for those detained and
the public.
