HMYOI Wetherby, a young offender institution with some extremely challenging young people, had improved and become more stable over the last year, according to Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.

In particular, a year on from the last inspection, there was a restored “sense of purpose and confidence” in the running of the Keppel unit within the prison, a self-contained specialist facility holding “some of the most challenging and vulnerable young people currently held anywhere in a custodial setting.”

However, inspectors found, in the wider Wetherby prison there were high levels of violence between boys and rising numbers of assaults on staff. Bullying was also a problem.

HMYOI Wetherby and Keppel, in Yorkshire, held 260 boys aged 15 to 18 at the time of the 2017 inspection, with around 40 boys in the Keppel unit. All custodial facilities for young people are inspected annually.

The 2016 inspection had found “much to commend” at Wetherby but also identified failings in safety and a failure to deliver an acceptable and predictable daily routine. In 2017, inspectors were reassured to find that the situation appeared to be more stable. A recently appointed new governor was a steadying influence, leading to a number of positive findings:

• The Keppel unit showed “clear evidence of improvement.”
• Overall, the number of boys exhibiting self-harming behaviour had reduced since the last inspection.
• Inspectors also found that work to resettle boys at the end of their sentences was a strength at Wetherby, with a good understanding of boys’ needs and improved community partnerships and use of release on temporary licence (ROTL) to support resettlement work.

However, the 2017 report noted that the wider prison was still not safe enough and reported levels of violence were high, with increasing violence against staff. Inspectors also found that:

• The prison was unable to identify the full extent of bullying and deliver proper support for boys who were bullied.
• While there was improvement in behaviour management strategies, with more effort to incentivise boys, “the approach to violence reduction in general was still not adequate.” In particular, inspectors found that many approaches to security or the use of segregation “lacked proportionality and were needlessly restrictive”. They observed “an overbearing focus on risk rather than the needs of the boys”.
• The wider prison operated a restricted daily routine and time out of cell was insufficient. During the working day inspectors found nearly half of boys in the wider Wetherby prison locked in cells – though the situation was much better on Keppel.
• Inspectors also found that work to promote equality was weak. Boys from a black and minority ethnic background reported a “significantly worse experience of victimisation by other boys and staff” but there was a lack of clarity at Wetherby on whether racist abuse was being managed effectively.

Peter Clarke said:

“Overall we were more optimistic about Wetherby following this inspection than we were after last year’s. Stability was more evident and staff seemed to be recovering their confidence. The governor had a good understanding of the challenges he faced and was beginning the process of improvement. Our report highlights a number of priorities, including work to tackle bullying, the promotion of equality and ensuring boys spend their time out of cell in constructive activity.”

Michael Spurr, Chief Executive of HM Prison and Probation Service, said:

“HMYOI Wetherby, and the self-contained unit Keppel, has made significant improvements in a number of areas, including reductions in levels of self-harm and improvements to the daily routine.

“The Governor and his staff have provided a steadying influence which has seen more positive interactions between staff and the offenders in their care. Wetherby has also demonstrated that good work is being done in the resettlement of offenders through community partnerships.

“The Governor and his staff will use the recommendations in the report to drive further progress.”

– ENDS –

Notes to editors:

A copy of the full report, published on 19 September 2017, can be found here.

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 Wetherby is a young offender institution in Yorkshire holding 260 boys aged 15 to 18. The Keppel unit, a self-contained specialist facility within the wider prison holding around 40 of the most challenging and vulnerable young people, was assessed separately against the HMIP tests of a healthy prison.

This unannounced inspection took place between 13-24 March 2017.

Please contact John Steele at HM Inspectorate of Prisons press office on 020 3681 2775 or 07880 787452 if you would like more information.