Advertisement
News

Violence inside youth prison more than doubles

Ofsted report into Rainsbrook children’s prison reveals shocking rise in violence, finding 500 incidents in six months

Violence inside Britain’s prisons has been rising for several years now.

And the latest Ofsted report into Rainsbrook youth facility in Warwickshire shows the problem is not confined to adults.

The private firm running the specialist prison for children was condemned after the report showed almost 500 violent incidents took place at Rainsbrook in the first six months of 2017.

Government inspectors found that young people experienced 40 assaults over the period, while members of staff at the prison were subjected to 36 assaults.

Levels of violence against staff and young people have more than doubled

Ofsted said violent incidents “are far too frequent an occurrence at the centre…Levels of violence against staff and young people have more than doubled since the previous inspection.”

The inspectors judged the prison “inadequate” in promoting positive behaviour.

Advertisement
Advertisement

MTCnovo, the US company running the secure training centre for offenders between the ages of 12 and 18, claimed it had made improvements since it took over from security behemoth G4S in May last year.

It is time for ministers to accept what is staring them in the face

But the Howard League for Penal Reform has called for Rainsbrook and similar private facilities for children to be shut down. “It is time for ministers to accept what is staring them in the face – these (secure training centres) should be closed.”

During his most recent report, Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, stated that not a single youth prison in England and Wales could be deemed safe.

Clarke recommended a shift toward rehabilitation to help the system to help young prisoners out of a “vicious cycle” of violence and reoffending.

Advertisement

Change a vendor's life this Christmas

This Christmas, 3.8 million people across the UK will be facing extreme poverty. Thousands of those struggling will turn to selling the Big Issue as a vital source of income - they need your support to earn and lift themselves out of poverty.

Recommended for you

Read All
Mum-of-three hit with 'revenge eviction' after asking for repairs: 'It felt like the end of the world'
Hazell and her three kids faced homelessness until Shelter stepped in
Renting

Mum-of-three hit with 'revenge eviction' after asking for repairs: 'It felt like the end of the world'

Malala Yousafzai on taking on the Taliban and why 'storytelling is the soul of activism'
Malala Yousafzai
Activism

Malala Yousafzai on taking on the Taliban and why 'storytelling is the soul of activism'

Winter fuel benefit cuts will send pensioners to hospital, DWP warned: 'It's a political choice'
a view from above of an older person with white hair eating out of a pot
Winter fuel payment

Winter fuel benefit cuts will send pensioners to hospital, DWP warned: 'It's a political choice'

Ghosts star Charlotte Ritchie: 'It's a tragedy people can't afford their essentials'
Charlotte Ritchie at Trussell food bank
Food banks

Ghosts star Charlotte Ritchie: 'It's a tragedy people can't afford their essentials'

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue