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HMYOI Feltham A: worrying decline makes YOI the most violent prison in the country

Published:

Conditions at Feltham A, a young offender institution in London, had deteriorated significantly since its last inspection, and was characterised by rising self-harm and very high levels of violence.

Incidents of disorder had tripled since the last inspection and the use of force, usually in response to violence, had risen by 68%. The situation was so volatile that some children said they did not want their families to visit in case violence broke out in front of them.

In the summer of 2023, things had got particularly bad, with a dramatic increase in the number of assaults and a serious incident in the education block that led to its closure from 22 August until early September. Inspectors found ongoing concerns about children’s access to education, with the use of 266 keep-apart instructions. This meant that, rather than being placed in lessons with children who had similar abilities and interests, boys were allocated to classes based on whom they could mix without fighting.

We were very concerned to find how Feltham A had deteriorated in the past two years, but it is to the credit of the governor and her leadership team that there were signs that they had managed to arrest this decline. Frontline staff, meanwhile, were a real asset to the jail and had managed to maintain impressively positive and supportive relationships with even the most challenging children in their care despite the violence around them.
Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Another major concern was the worryingly prolonged segregation of some children from their peers. Seven children had been separated for more than 50 days, two of them for more than 100.

Notes to editors

  1. A copy of the full report, published on 16 July 2024, can be found on the HM Inspectorate of Prisons website at: www.hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/inspections/  
  2. This report was originally due to be published on 4 June, but was delayed due to the general election.
  3. This inspection took place between 4 -14 March 2024.
  4. Feltham A, in Greater London, manages children on remand and those who have been convicted by courts. The prison held 84 children at the time of inspection, with 266 different instructions to prevent children from mixing.
  5. 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.
  6. Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.