Youth justice Mubarek probe turns to whistleblowing

Whistleblowing in the prison service will be examined during the
second phase of the Zahid Mubarek inquiry.

Mr Justice Keith, the inquiry chair, has announced that he wants to
find out how far staff are encouraged to report on colleagues
“without fear of reprisals”.

The inquiry is investigating why Mubarek came to share a cell with
known racist Robert Stewart who murdered him in March 2000 at
Feltham young offender institution.

Whistleblowing emerged as a key issue for the inquiry after Duncan
Keys, a Prison Officers Association member, alleged that warders
had placed unsuitable inmates together in cells in a practice
referred to as “Gladiator”.

The inquiry’s second phase, due to start next month, will also
address issues such as whether cell-sharing reduces the risk of
self-harm and whether there is adequate staff training for dealing
with racist incidents.

Mr Justice Keith hopes to hand over his report to the home
secretary by the end of the year.