Young women to be removed from jail

All girls under 17 are to be removed from Prison Service
accommodation during 2003, the Youth Justice Board announced this
week after the chief inspector of prisons called for urgent action
to be taken following a critical inspection of Holloway
prison.

The board said the move had been delayed as a result of pressure on
the juvenile secure estate, which saw vulnerable boys taking places
intended for girls in secure training centres.

In the inspection report of Holloway, Anne Owers said: “We had
specific and serious concerns about the small number of
under-18-year-olds held in Holloway.”

No assessments of vulnerability and risk were being carried out,
the regime was wholly inadequate, staff lacked essential
documentation and no training plan meetings were taking place, the
report found.

Placing 16-year-old girls who have been sentenced in Holloway will
cease this year and 17-year-olds on remand at the prison will be
moved to girls’ prison service units.

– Go to www.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmipris/hmipris.htm