HMYOI Ashfield - work needed to prevent further deterioration
There were high levels of violence at HMYOI Ashfield, and more work was needed to prepare young people for release or transfer as the prison re-roled, said Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons.
Today he published a report on an unannounced inspection of the young offender institution (YOI) near Bristol.
In January 2013, the Justice Secretary announced plans to close HMYOI Ashfield and re-role it as an adult prison. The inspectorate decided to proceed with their planned inspection in February 2013 to ensure that the young people who continued to be held there were held safely and decently during the transition and that plans to ensure their move to another establishment or release were well managed. At the time of inspection, Ashfield was just one-third full and held 123 young people, most aged 16 or 17. Detailed feedback was given to the establishment immediately after the inspection.
Inspectors were concerned to find that:
• despite the reduction in numbers held, there had been a sharp increase in self-harm incidents since the closure announcement;
• the number of formal disciplinary proceedings was high, and fights and assaults accounted for two-thirds of the charges laid;
• levels of violence were high and staff said there had been an increase in the overall number of violent incidents since the closure announcement;
• use of force by staff was also high in 2012 and two young people had suffered broken bones following staff use of force;
• young people were routinely strip-searched when they entered or left reception;
• there was a lack of effective joint strategic planning between the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and Ashfield; and
• poor communication between the interested parties was causing confusion and agitation.
However, inspectors were pleased to find that:
• despite the levels of violence, young people did not say they did not feel safe;
• the segregation unit had closed since the last inspection;
• there were some good systems to address the particularly poor behaviour of some young people;
• the environment was reasonable and young people could have telephones in their cells;
• relationships between staff and young people were good, and staff put their own anxieties about the change aside and did not let this affect their dealings with the young people; and
• young people had good access to education and training, but it was increasingly difficult to motivate the young people and a concern that provision for those transferring elsewhere would not be linked to the work they had done at Ashfield
Nick Hardwick said:
‘We have reported our concern about high levels of violence at a number of recent inspections of YOIs holding children and young people. At Ashfield too, young people’s safety was compromised because they were exposed to unacceptable levels of violence – and there is some evidence the situation has deteriorated since the closure decision was announced. Planning for the closure was not effectively coordinated between the YJB and Ashfield, and the needs of individual young people were not carefully considered. The anxiety and uncertainty this created may well have contributed to the tension at the establishment. It certainly means that young people were not being adequately prepared for transfer or release.’
Notes to Editors:
- A copy of the report
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment, and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
- HMYOI Ashfield is a young offender institution for young men aged between 15 and 18 years, run by Serco Limited.
- This unannounced inspection was carried out from 11-14 February 2013.
- Please contact Jane Parsons in HMI Prisons Press Office on 0207 035 2123 or 07880 787452 if you would like more information or to request an interview with Nick Hardwick.