An inspection has identified a troubled children’s detention center as the most violent prison in the country.
High Levels of Violence
Feltham Young Offenders Institution, which accommodates teenagers aged 15-18, raised concerns following a study that revealed six times more violent incidents compared to one of the riskiest adult penitentiaries in the UK.
Chief prison inspector Charlie Taylor expressed significant worries after the investigation uncovered 410 violent occurrences at Feltham A in a year involving 84 adolescents, translating to a rate of 488 events per 100 juveniles.
In contrast, the latest evaluation of HMP Bedford, renowned for its violence levels, reported a rate of 80.6 incidents per 100 prisoners.
Worsening Standards
Published on Tuesday, a report by Mr. Taylor lamented the decline in standards at Feltham A, now topping the charts for prison violence.
During the examination in March, inspectors observed a surge in violence and self-harm at Feltham A, with incidents of unrest having tripled since the previous assessment.
Safety Concerns
The inspectors raised alarms about the extended segregation of certain juveniles, noting that seven children had been isolated for over 50 days, with two of them exceeding 100 days.
A remarkable increase in assaults and severe incidents led to the closure of the education block for several weeks, as boys were allocated to classes based on their compatibility to avoid conflicts.
Past Issues
This is not the first time Feltham A has come under scrutiny. In 2019, the Government ceased sending children to the facility due to a sharp decline in safety levels, following a surge in violence and self-harm.
Despite the decline, Mr. Taylor acknowledged the efforts of the governor and the staff in improving the situation and maintaining positive relationships with the children under challenging circumstances.
The Ministry of Justice has been approached for a response.
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