Oakhill protection referrals sky-high
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Oakhill Secure Training Centre (STC) has referred more than twice as many children to child protection services than England's other STCs, government figures show.
The figures, revealed by children's minister Beverley Hughes in Parliament, came as the Youth Justice Board told the firm running the troubled centre it had 60 days to improve (www.cypnow.co.uk).
Hughes said that between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2008, 125 young people at Oakhill were referred to local child protection services. This compares to 69 at Hassockfield STC, 60 at Medway and 48 at Rainsbrook.
As recently as March, the chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers, recommended Oakhill should be shut down and reopened.
Ian Johnson, chief executive at the British Association of Social Workers, said the figures were worrying: "It could be that child protection issues aren't being picked up in other areas but either way it's a serious cause for concern."
