The Leicestershire YOI, which has been earmarked as the site for the government’s proposed secure college for young offenders, was found to have significant failings in its management of offender safety and its overuse of force to maintain order when it underwent an unannounced inspection by HM Prisons Inspectorate (HMPI) in April.
A survey of the 659 young adults aged 18 to 21 held at the YOI found half reported feeling unsafe at some time, while one fifth said they felt unsafe at the time of the inspection.
Offenders reported “extremely high” levels of violence and intimidation by other prisoners, with a marked increase in recorded assaults since 2012. There was also evidence of under-reporting of incidents.
Inspectors found many more prisoners than normal were subject to anti-bullying procedures and some young people said they would deliberately misbehave in order to be moved to the segregation unit where they felt safer.
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