A damning watchdog report has revealed the extent of violence and weapon-making at Cookham Wood young offenders’ Institution (YOI) in Kent, as inspectors described the conditions as “appalling.” The report, published on Tuesday, highlighted the alarming situation at the facility, which holds some of the most challenging and vulnerable children in the criminal justice system. Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor raised urgent concerns with justice secretary Alex Chalk following his inspection in April.
The report revealed that children at Cookham Wood armed themselves with hundreds of homemade weapons. The use of solitary confinement was employed to manage conflicts between inmates, as many children resorted to fashioning makeshift weapons from kettles and other metal objects for self-protection. Inspectors found that violence was rife and weapon-making was widespread within the institution. In the six months leading up to the inspection, 228 weapons were discovered, indicating a significantly higher number compared to similar establishments. Security checks were deemed inadequate, and almost a quarter of the boys reported feeling unsafe.
The overall condition of the facility was described as poor, with dirty living units and broken equipment. The inspection also revealed a demoralized and frightened staff, with some employees seemingly having given up and neglecting to wear proper uniforms. Senior management was criticized for staying out of sight in their offices.
Chief inspector Charlie Taylor called for an urgent and long-term commitment from prison leaders to improve standards at Cookham Wood. The report was met with shock by the Prison Reform Trust, which highlighted a failure of leadership within the youth justice system. The charity emphasized that safe and purposeful regimes cannot be maintained by issuing instructions from behind closed doors.
The Ministry of Justice acknowledged the deeply concerning report and stated that decisive action was already underway to address the issues raised. Measures include increased staff numbers, a new task force to tackle violence, and providing support to the newly appointed governor at HMYOI Cookham Wood. These efforts have resulted in a decrease in incidents of violence, fewer instances of young people being kept apart, and an increased focus on education to divert them from a life of crime.
