Rise in self-harm prompts questions

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.