Almost half of all boys held in young offender institutions (YOIs) feel "unsafe" in custody, the highest level recorded since the Prisons Inspectorate began recording views in 2001, a study has found.

A report based on surveys of young people in custody conducted by the standards watchdog in 2015/16 found that 46 per cent felt unsafe in young offender institutions (YOI) - the highest proportion since the prisons inspectorate began surveying those in youth custody in 2001. 

The figure for secure training centres stands at 23 per cent.

The report reveals that around one in three children and young people reported being specifically victimised by being shouted at through windows.

The findings come in the same year two YOIs were handed damning inspection reports criticising high levels of violence among young offenders.

In September prisons minister Sam Gyimah was asked to outline what is being done nationally to reduce levels of violence in youth custody, after it emerged there were 19 instances of grievous bodily harm in a single establishment in the space 12 months.

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