Watchdog critical of Feltham cuts

A prison watchdog has called for the government to ring-fence
funding for prisoners with personality disorders in a report on
Feltham young offender institution.

The Independent Monitoring Board’s report on Feltham for 2003-4,
published this week, revealed that funding for the offending
behaviour department had been withdrawn leaving a “skeleton”
workforce.

The IMB also voiced concern over the closure of the psychology
department and urged better treatment of mentally ill people in
custody.

The public inquiry into the death of Zahid Mubarek at Feltham YOI
in 2000 by his cellmate Robert Stewart is due to report in the
autumn.