Campaigners have questioned the support given to young offenders in secure training centres after figures showed a rise in self-harm incidents.

Medway recorded the highest number of self-harm incidents in STCs last year – 219 compared with just 49 in 2001.

Enver Solomon, head of policy and research at charity Revolving Doors, said the figures showed the centres were “failing to provide vulnerable young people with the support they need”.

Private company GSL UK, which runs Medway and Rainsbrook, said the high figures were a result of a more detailed recording system brought in last year.

The Home Office will extend the duty of the prisons and probation ombudsman to investigate deaths in secure training centres.