The annual report of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons reveals that of four young offender institutions (YOIs) inspected, only the two smallest were judged to be "reasonably safe". There had been increasing violence, and measures to address this had reduced time out of cells, so many boys served most of their sentence locked up.
"The current state of affairs is dangerous, counterproductive and will inevitably end in tragedy unless urgent corrective action is taken," the report states.
The report cites latest Youth Justice Board (YJB) statistics for 2015/16, which showed self-harm rates to be 8.9 incidents per 100 children compared with 4.1 in 2011 and assault rates at 18.9 per 100 children compared with 9.7 in 2011.
Meanwhile, a survey found that 46 per cent of boys felt unsafe at their establishment.
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