A cell at HMPYOI Feltham (Image: HM Inspector of Prisons)
BRITAIN’s most violent prison has been revealed as Feltham Young Offenders’ Institute, after a surge in attacks last summer, a watchdog said.
Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, said the YOI had deteriorated after showing signs of improvement during the last inspection in 2022.
Levels of self harm among inmates also more than quadrupled from 40 during the period of the last inspection in 2022 to 171 during the period in question.
There were nine children receiving treatments for self-inflicted injuries at the time the inspection was carried out.
It was also revealed that 78 percent of the inmates, aged from 15 to 18, identified as being from an ethic minority, while 38 percent were Muslim.
In a report published today of an 11-day unannounced inspection carried out from March 4 to 14 this year, Mr Taylor wrote: “At our 2022 inspection of HMYOI Feltham A, we awarded some of the best healthy establishment test scores achieved in recent years at this west London jail.
“It was disappointing to return to find there had been a deterioration in standards with levels of violence now the highest of any prison in the country.
“In the summer of 2023, things had got particularly bad, with a dramatic increase in the number of assaults and a serious incident in the education block that led to its closure from 22 August until early September.
“It is to the credit of the governor and some impressive functional leaders that this decline has begun to be arrested.”
Much of the violence stems from inter-street gang rivalries, according to the Prison Officers Association (POA) who have consistently called for officers to be armed with PAVA spray before someone is killed.
The former Tory Government refused to concede to this request and it is unclear what Labour’s stance will be.
There are large numbers of members of opposing gangs from London held in the unt, leading to an increased risk of violence, according to the POA, which said the YOI had to use orders to keep them apart.
Yet, Mr Taylor said in his report that the “keep apart lists” were in some ways inflaming problems.
He added in his report: “Violence is at the root of almost all of the challenges that we found during this inspection. There has been an increase in extensive ‘keep apart’ lists that can become as much a cause of violence as they are a solution. There were 266 different instructions to prevent children from mixing, which inevitably affected the amount of time that boys could spend out of their cells with multiple regimes being run on the same unit.
Mr Taylor said he was very concerned after there were 410 violent incidents at Feltham A within a 12-month period from 84 children, equating to a rate of 488 incidents per 100 children.
In comparison, an latest inspection of HMP Bedford, one of the country’s most violent adult prisons, found the rate of violence was calculated at 80.6 incidents per 100 prisoners.
HMPYOI Feltham is the most violent prison in Britain (Image: MOJ)
“This limited access to education and meant that rather than being placed in classes with those who had similar abilities and
interests, allocations were based on who could be put in the same room without fighting. Keep aparts also limited boys’ access to visits and meant that medical appointments were being missed.
“In the education block, the risk of fights breaking out meant that there were many staff patrolling the corridor and complicated arrangements to move groups of children in and out of the building.”
There were 84 inmates held at Feltham at the time of the inspection, but it has the capacity for more than 200 children.
In surveys undertaken by the inspectorate, 78 percent of those held at the time identified as being black or from another ethnic minority group.
Fifty one of the children (60 percent) had been in the care system at some stage of their lives, the survey found, but there were only two social workers within the institution.
The well-stocked library at Feltham (Image: HM Inspector of Prisons)
The survey found 28 percent of children identified as having a learning need or disability that affected their daily life.
The report added: “In our survey, 78 percent of the population identified as from an ethnic group other than white. Leaders had responded well to consultation with black and minority ethnic children and a range of products designed for black hair and skin were available. An additional first night pack was provided for black and minority ethnic children containing skin creams and other
items that they may need on arrival.
“In our survey, the perceptions of children from a black and minority ethnic background about their treatment were broadly similar to those of white children except that significantly more said they had been restrained than white children. This had been identified by leaders as use of force was a standing agenda item at the DIMM.
“The managing and minimising physical restraint (MMPR) coordinators had begun interviewing children following restraint and speaking to staff during minimising and managing physical restraint refreshers to find out the reasons for this
“At the time of the inspection, just over 6 percent of children identified as foreign nationals. They could meet Home Office staff each month if they wished.
“In our survey, 38 percent of children said they were Muslim. Ramadan was taking place during the week of the inspection and children told us that it was well organised, which they appreciated. Qibla signage had been reintroduced on the units, which was good.”
A cell at HMPYOI Feltham (Image: HM Inspector of Prisons)
Self harm was also on the rise.
Mr Taylor added: “Levels of self-harm had risen substantially since our last inspection.
During the previous 12 months, there had been 171 instances of self-harm compared to 40 during the same period before our last inspection. Levels of serious self-harm remained similar with nine children requiring treatment in hospital compared to seven at our last inspection.
“Instances of self-harm had increased during the summer of 2023 due to prolific self-harm by a small number of children. Leaders had managed this well and the child with the most instances of self-harm had been moved to a secure hospital that offered better support for his mental health needs. Levels of self-harm had subsequently reduced but remained higher than previously.
“Leaders did not routinely view data on self-harm and were unaware of the main causes or trends. There was no strategic plan to reduce the level of self-harm. Every incident of self-harm was reviewed but no learning or actions were generated following serious self-harm or near misses to try to prevent future occurrences.
“An ambulance was now called as soon as a code blue was called and control room staff in the prison relayed information from the incident scene to the ambulance service. Once the ambulance had been called, only a health professional at the scene could cancel it.”
The report criticised the standard of fixtures and fittings (Image: HM Inspector of Prisons)
Other problems identified were lack of education for inmates and children being held in their cells for far too long.
Mr Taylor added in His report: “It was astonishing that the youth custody service and the education provider had allowed the introduction of a curriculum for English and maths that was not fit for the needs of the children at Feltham. There was also a shortage of level 3 courses on offer for the more able children.
“Hardworking, dedicated staff and leaders continued to do their best, but the serious deterioration in the institution that took place last summer was taking a long time to put right. In the meantime, children were not safe enough; they were locked in their cells for far too long and the provision of education was inadequate.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “The criminal justice system is in crisis and as this report clearly shows, this is placing great strain on the youth estate.
“As the Chief Inspector recognises in his report, the governor and frontline staff are now making every effort to drive improvements and reduce violence. But we know there is much more to do and we are committed to increasing the support these children need to turn their lives around.
“Custody should always be a last resort for children. While the number of children in custody are at their lowest on record, the ones who remain are some of the most complex and vulnerable in the country.
“Separation of children in custody is only used when absolutely necessary to prevent harm to the child or others, when all other alternatives have been exhausted.
“Feltham A was inspected in March 2024 for the period 23/24, and improvements since summer 2023 are acknowledged by the inspector, including in safety, with 92 per cent of children reporting to inspectors they felt safe, which is testament to the hard work of frontline staff in building positive relationships with this complex and challenging group.”