Rise in violence at YOI leads to more young people feeling unsafe

An unannounced inspection of Cookham Wood in May by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) found the proportion of young people held at the Kent YOI who felt unsafe had risen by a third to 41 per cent, compared to 27 per cent at the previous inspection in May 2014.

The HMIP inspection report described a "deteriorating" picture of violence, with 61 assaults and 92 fights recorded at the establishment – which holds 166 boys aged 15 to 18 – in the six months leading up to March 2015.

"The number of violent incidents remained very high," the report states. "There had been an increase in the number of boys requiring hospital treatment, many with head injuries sustained by their attackers jumping on their heads."

In addition, inspectors found use of force by staff had continued to increase since the previous inspection.

The report states: "There had been nearly 400 incidents involving force during the previous six months, compared with 282 at the previous inspection. Over the same period, three children had required treatment in hospital following restraint."

The number of assaults on staff had also doubled since the last inspection. The report found that staff relationships with the young people were "inconsistent and distant".

Cookham Wood had, however, made important progress in some areas in a comparatively short period of time, the report says. Health care had improved and levels of self-harm had fallen since the last inspection, when the issue was highlighted as a concern, and were much lower than at similar establishments.

"Arrangements for boys with the highest level of need were much better," the report states. "The environment and the regime in the Phoenix Unit, which holds boys who needed to be segregated for reasons of good order and discipline, had improved significantly since the last inspection."

The report makes recommendations for how the YOI can improve. But Nick Hardwick, chief inspector of prisons, said the issues at Cookham Wood highlight systemic problems.

"A much wider political and policy response is needed if we are to fulfil our responsibilities to care for these, our most damaged children, safely and help them to grow into adults who are valued, not feared," he said.

Lin Hinnigan, chief executive of the Youth Justice Board, added: “We are pleased to see inspectors have recognised the progress made at Cookham Wood, which is especially encouraging in the light of the challenging and vulnerable cohort of young people whose needs the establishment seeks to address.

"However, the report also finds that the number of violent incidents remains high and that too many boys do not feel safe at Cookham Wood YOI.”

The report comes after an investigation was launched into the death of a young person in custody at the establishment earlier this year.