The transition to new accommodation and staff vacancies had been a challenge for Cookham Wood. Safety had deteriorated and progress had stalled in other areas, but a new governor and the new accommodation gave reasons for optimism, said Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons.   Today he published the report of an unannounced inspection of the young offender institution in Kent.

Cookham Wood holds sentenced and remanded boys aged 15 to 18. It has a wide catchment area across southern England. It was previously inspected in July 2013. This inspection in June 2014 is the latest in what are now annual visits to facilities which hold children, which are intrinsically high risk. The 2014 inspection found the preceding year had been a challenge, mainly because of the transition to new accommodation that has radically re-shaped and improved the facility. Combined with this, organisational restructuring has impacted all prisons and has led to staff shortages followed by significant challenges in the ability to recruit and replace staff. Both factors explain to an extent why there has been some deterioration in safety and stalled progress in other areas.

Inspectors were concerned to find that:

• the number of recorded violent incidents was high and rising and some were serious with evidence of concerted attacks on individuals;
• during a recent lockdown search, 30 weapons were discovered;
• useful initiatives to challenge the perpetrators of violence as well as to support victims had lapsed;
• use of force was similarly high and inspectors were not confident that all instances observed were justified;
• de-escalation of incidents was evident but it was clear that the introduction of new techniques that, for example, replace the use of pain compliance on children were urgently needed;
• child safeguarding had deteriorated and there were a number of instances where issues or complaints had not been followed up;
• relationships between staff and young people were mixed; and
• at the time of the inspection, a restricted regime was operating, largely as a consequence of staff shortages.

However, inspectors were pleased to find that:

• although the segregation unit was a poor environment, the regime had improved;
• the quality of the new accommodation was excellent and it had been designed to create smaller, more supportive communities within the wider prison that have worked well elsewhere;
• the quality of learning and skills provision remained good, but required improved leadership and management; and
• resettlement work continued to be effective.

Nick Hardwick said:

“We inspected Cookham Wood at a tough and challenging time. A new governor had recently been appointed and there had been significant loss of staff, not all of whom had been replaced. The move to new accommodation had been successful, but had clearly been a significant management distraction. Outcomes had suffered but the institution was sighted and there was evidence that issues were beginning to be gripped, so there remains every reason for optimism about the outlook at Cookham Wood. However, risks remain and the need to recruit suitable new staff is fundamental to the future success of the prison.”

Michael Spurr, Chief Executive Officer of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), said:

“As the Chief Inspector acknowledges, Cookham Wood manages a challenging population and has been through a difficult period of restructuring and change.

“The new accommodation, which is now in use, provides much better facilities to manage young people safely and to support their rehabilitation.

“The Governor is actively tackling violence within the prison. Staff are being provided with additional training in behaviour management and all serious incidents are being referred to the police. Use of force has reduced and we are actively recruiting new staff to fill vacancies.

“This action will ensure that Cookham Wood is able to provide a safe and positive regime for the young people in its care.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Read the report.
2. 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.
3. This unannounced inspection was carried out from 9-20 June 2014.
4. HMYOI Cookham Wood holds male sentenced and remanded young people aged 15 to 18.
5. Please contact Jane Parsons at HMI Prisons on 020 3681 2775 or 07880 787452 if you would like more information or to request an interview.