The juvenile custody system in England and Wales is in danger of meltdown. This is not just the belief of prison reform groups, but also Rod Morgan, chair of the Youth Justice Board and the man responsible for the welfare of young offenders in England and Wales.

Despite the most recent British Crime Survey, in October, showing that youth crime is falling, the number of young people being locked up has rarely been higher.

This crisis last week prompted Morgan to join Anne Owers, chief inspector of prisons, and Sir Al Aynsley-Green, children's commissioner for England, at Feltham Young Offender Institution to emphasise that the system is full to overflowing (YPN, 25-31 October, p2).

There are 3,308 juveniles in custody, with just 52 spare beds available. The Youth Justice Board aims to place young people in custody within 50 miles of their homes but, at present, the custody crisis means it is only able to do so in 65 per cent of cases.

Morgan says: "At one point we managed to get above 70 per cent, but we're slipping backwards."

The majority of extra young prisoners coming into the system are from the South, particularly from London boroughs. Feltham is the only place in the Southeast for 15- to 17-year-old remand prisoners, but it only has 240 beds.

"Once someone from London and the Southeast has been sentenced we have to get them out of Feltham as soon as possible, because we need every bed for remandees," says Morgan. "This causes a ripple effect across the country."

Young prisoners are initially bussed to Huntercombe in Oxfordshire and Hollesley Bay in Suffolk. After that, the next option is Ashfield, near Bristol. But some are moved to the West Midlands. And about 50 young prisoners from the South are housed as far north as Werrington in Staffordshire.

"We even have one or two remand prisoners at Ashfield and Werrington," says Morgan. "They have to be transported back to London for regular court appearances."

As Morgan points out, these "out-of-area placements" are stressful for the young people, their families and staff. Family visits are the most important thing for most young people in custody.

"It has implications for the youth justice system generally," says Morgan. "We set substantial store by youth offending team workers attending sentence review meetings. This makes it increasingly difficult for full participation for those purposes."

It also means prisoners who turn 18 near the end of their sentence have to finish their stretch in an adult jail. Education and training are also disrupted.

Tensions in the system

The choice of Feltham as a venue to highlight the problems was particularly pertinent. The murder of Zahid Mubarek by his racist cellmate in the institution in 2000 prompted a public inquiry. Earlier this year, the inquiry made 88 recommendations for improving the prison system, including the elimination of enforced cell sharing. The pressures on the juvenile custody system mean this aspiration is unachievable. As Morgan candidly admits: "People who don't want to share are being asked to share because we need the spaces."

This has led to tensions in the system and to problems such as last month's riot at Stoke Heath Young Offender Institution in Shropshire, when upwards of 30 inmates caused damage to an accommodation wing that has put 70 beds out of action for up to three months (YPN, 11-17 October, p7).

Next April, Morgan finishes his three-year term as chair of the Youth Justice Board, a post he took over from acting chair Charles Pollard in 2004.

Morgan is coy about a possible second term. "It's a very important job; one I've hugely enjoyed," he says. "If I think the chances of evidence prevailing and policy pursuing a course that's in accord with the evidence, I would be honoured to be given the chance to continue."

But the evidence he refers to is the cause of much soul-searching, and Morgan admits the current custody crisis makes him feel a failure. "We have a statutory duty to advise ministers about a sensible course to reduce reoffending in the light of the best available evidence," he explains. "And the best available evidence is that, though a minority of youth offending is very serious, many in custody would stand a better chance of stopping offending if they were subject to community penalties."

He stops short of saying government ministers aren't supporting the proposition that putting children into custody should absolutely be a last resort, but the implication is obvious: commitment needs renewing at senior level. "Custody should only be used for very serious and seriously prolific offenders," says Morgan. "That message needs to be absolutely loud and clear."

Beverley Hughes appears to back Morgan's call to action. The youth minister last week told Young People Now: "I'm concerned if young people are going into custody who could - and possibly should - be dealt with in more constructive ways that will have an implication on reducing future offending.

"Intensive supervision and surveillance programmes have been successful in diverting young people away from offending."

Morgan has a target to reduce the number of children and young people in custody by 10 per cent by 2008, but for the past year numbers have been going up (see box out, below). "Our hope is that the Home Office is signed up to the proposition that our target should be supported," says Morgan. "We have a target we've all agreed is sensible, which accords with the evidence about what's effective."

But as he points out: "Simultaneously, we have to look to the Home Office for extra funds to cope with the extra numbers (of young people in custody). That's an unhappy disjunction."

Proven approach

Morgan has no time for those who suggest proponents of the preventive approach are apologists for young criminals. "Young people should be made to face up to the consequences of their behaviour: it's a question of how you do it," he says. "Criminalising young people can be counterproductive. That's based on systematic cohort research. If people in the Home Office think we are liberal softies they are mistaken."

He remains "hugely impressed" by the commitment, innovation and dedication of frontline youth justice workers, the emphasis on really working with victims and the application of early prevention and restorative working. He believes following this approach is the only strategy for solving the crisis.

"Custody is the worst environment within which to achieve positive outcomes," says Morgan. "If we can't get that message across and persuade the Government and the courts that is the way we should go, I feel I'm failing."

YOUTH CUSTODY IN NUMBERS Juveniles under 18 in custody, as of 26 October 2006 - Current population - 3,308 - Current vacancies - 52 Figures prior to 40 completed court appearances due on that day.

Juveniles in custody more than 50 miles from home, as of September 2006 - 2002: 29 per cent - 2003: 31 per cent - 2004: 31 per cent - 2005: 32 per cent - 2006: 35 per cent

Girls in juvenile custody, as of 26 October 2006 - The young offender institution capacity for girls is 88, including 13 contingency beds. Current occupancy is 79 - Secure training centre capacity for girls is 126. Current occupancy is 111.

Secure children's homes

The Youth Justice Board contracts 235 beds with secure children's homes. Current occupancy by girls is 41 - 23 beds are guaranteed for girls, 79 beds are for boys or girls. The remainder are for boys only.

Custody target

The Youth Justice Board has a target to reduce the juvenile custodial population by 10 per cent from March 2005's figure of 2,684. The reduction to 2,416 is to be achieved by March 2008.