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Anne Owers still remains concerned about escort arrangements for young offenders being transported between courts and prisons, despite new contracts being introduced earlier this year, writes Maria Ahmed in London.

Speaking at the Youth Justice Board's annual conference, the chief inspector of prisons stressed the need to ensure protection for young people at such a "vulnerable" time.

Owers also reiterated fears about provision for 18-to-20-year-olds and said it was "critically important" to ensure steps were made to reduce the frequent movement around the estate.

Her comments backed exclusive research carried out for Community Care this week which outlined the appalling conditions endured by young adult offenders. It highlighted how they spend their sentence in a number of establishments creating a "churn" of movement around the estate.

She also highlighted the difficulties of maintaining safety in large juvenile establishments and expressed concern about under-18s being placed far away from home.

Owers reiterated other concerns about strip-searching and use of force on children in custody, particularly those with a history of abuse.

She called for a more "holistic" approach in dealing with young offenders, focussing on care, before and after custody.