Two young offenders institutions are failing to provide the quality of care for children laid out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of The Child, according to research by penal reform charity The Howard League.
The research, based on conditions for 15 to 17 year olds at Lancaster Farms, Lancaster, and Castington, Northumberland, reveals a lack of specialist training for staff, units that are too large to provide individual care, limited access to daylight and open air, and difficulty controlling bullying.
But a spokeswoman for the Youth Justice Board, which is responsible for monitoring the institutions, denied there were any problems. "We refute the points made," she said. "For example, the boys do not have limited access to open air. They play outdoor sports on a daily basis."
She said figures on the number of assaults had also been greatly exaggerated.
The Howard League acknowledges that recent changes to the youth justice system, including the introduction of the Youth Justice Board and the imposition of standards, have improved access to activities for children.
But spokesperson Charlotte Day said the fundamental character of prison remained unchanged. "Prisons are institutions designed for security rather than care and the Howard League is concerned that they still fail to meet the needs of children," she said.
The Howard League now plans to carry out similar research into every young offenders institution. "We expect to find that issues such as lack of training, the size of units and the lack of preparation for release will be common to all young offenders institutions," said Day.
