MPs ‘shocked and appalled’ by treatment of children at STC
Neil Puffett
Monday, March 29, 2021
An influential group of MPs has called on the government to consider taking back control of a privately-run secure training centre (STC) where children were locked in their cells for more than 23 hours a day, saying they are “shocked and appalled” by conditions.
A report by the justice select committee has called on the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to consider taking back direct control of Rainsbrook STC unless the private company currently in charge, MTC, makes substantial improvements.
Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre in Northamptonshire has been run by MTC since 2016 with concerns raised about the quality of services on a number of occasions since then.
The committee said it was concerned that the head of the UK arm of MTC had told them he plans only to accept recommendations “we think fair and grounded”, and is not confident in MTC’s ability to deliver recommendations repeatedly made over a period of years by the three sets of inspectors.
It has recommended that MTC and the Youth Custody Service branch of the MoJ report to it by June 2021 setting out in detail what progress had been made. If by then substantial improvement was not apparent, the committee report said, the MoJ should consider taking Rainsbrook "back in house".
Sir Bob Neill, chair of the justice select committee, said: “The children held at places like Rainsbrook have committed serious crimes and are not always easy to care for or handle. We know that. But these are children - and some of the most vulnerable members of our society. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. It is clear this was not happening, and that is unacceptable in the extreme.
“The experience of the inspectors over the past year has shown that some of the promises made by MTC are worth less than the paper they are written on. This, too, is unacceptable. But even worse, in a way, is that the competent public authorities - from the Ministry of Justice down - have failed in their oversight of this private contractor.
“We welcome the work being done to address these failings. But the issues identified here are not new and a much greater sense of urgency is required. My committee will be watching to try to ensure that change for the better takes place – and soon.”
The most recent concerns began to surface in February 2020 when inspectors found poor education provision, with many children refusing to attend lessons, high staff turnover and low levels of staff experience. MPs said that although inspectors made 19 recommendations, these were largely ignored.
Last month, sector leaders criticised a move to extend the firm’s contract to run Rainsbrook STC until 2023.
Responding to the committee's report, managing director for MTC in the UK, Ian Mulholland, said: “This report sets out the challenge we face at Rainsbrook STC and we want to make clear that we accept - and are working in collaboration with the MoJ to address - all the recommendations inspectors have made.
“Since October, we have put in place a new leadership team at Rainsbrook STC to give the centre the expertise needed to support the children in our care. We have already appointed a new education provider, head of education and head of compliance to ensure our plans for improvement are translated into action. Most significantly, our new permanent director, a youth custody specialist whose appointment was welcomed by the committee, joins the centre this week.
“At a follow up assessment in January, inspectors reported that they could now see 'meaningful' change. We understand the weight of responsibility we have for the children in our care. We are committed over the coming months to make the changes we all want to see at Rainsbrook STC, so it becomes a centre that supports children to reach their potential.”
