Howard League responds to damning report on children in custody

The Howard League for Penal Reform has responded to HM Inspectorate of Prisons’ Children in custody 2023-2024 report and its review of progress at Feltham A, a prison holding children, both published today (Wednesday 13 November).

The annual children in custody report analyses survey data from children living in young offender institutions (YOIs) and secure training centres (STCs) across England and Wales. In 2023-24, 81% of children responded to the survey, 40% of whom had either not been convicted or were waiting to be sentenced, and many of whom will not go on to receive a custodial sentence.

This data starkly highlights the widespread – and worsening – failures in the youth custody estate.

The survey found that 15% of children reported feeling unsafe, a more than two-fold increase on the previous year. Those who reported feeling unsafe consequently had worse outcomes across almost every part of the survey, with far higher proportions reporting that they felt bullied or victimised by other children and had experienced verbal and physical abuse from staff.

The survey also shows that fewer children are attending education and a shocking 16% reported that they were not doing any education, training, work or interventions. Inspection reports over the past year have highlighted that children are locked in their cells for much of the day and that no YOIs are providing adequate education. Only half of children surveyed felt that their experiences of custody made them less likely to offend in the future.

Inspection reports of establishments described behaviour management systems that were overwhelmed by very high levels of violence. Lack of staff and high levels of sickness meant that prisons were unable to deliver consistent or effective behaviour management for the children.

Inspectors visited Feltham A, a prison in London holding boys aged 15 to 18, in September and October of this year and found similar patterns of conflict, violence and staff shortages.

While some progress was identified, inspectors found that Feltham A was locked in cycles of high staff sickness leading to children spending 20 to 21 hours a day locked in their cells. The recent closure of Cookham Wood children’s prison meant that the prison had seen an increase in population of almost 50%, severely impacting children’s attendance at work or education.

Andrea Coomber KC (Hon.), Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “All children need exercise, education and contact with other people if they are to progress and live healthily as adults. Instead, children in custody are being let down, by every measure, in a youth estate marred by violence and disarray.

“Our legal team regularly hears from children in prison who are spending hours locked in their cells, without access to adequate education or opportunities to progress. Prison simply cannot provide the care or support that these children need.

“The capacity crisis in adult male prisons should not overshadow the terrible state of youth custody, which is without the same population pressures and with a considerable amount of resource by comparison to adult prisons. The government must act urgently before more children are failed by this system.”

Notes to editors

1. The Howard League for Penal Reform is the oldest penal reform charity in the world. It is a national charity working for less crime, safer communities and fewer people in prison.
2. The Children in custody 2023-2024 report and the independent review of progress on Feltham A will be available on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website at: https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/our-reports/

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Noor Khan
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