A serious violent incident at a failing prison left staff members needing hospital treatment, shortly before a visit from inspectors.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons had told Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution to improve in November last year, after inspectors found a rise in violence at the prison for 15 to 18-year-olds.

A new report from the inspectorate, published today, says when their team attended the Rochester prison again in April this year they found insufficient progress in a number of key areas, and that the institution had been rocked by a recent violent incident.

"Several children had deeply entrenched conflicts with each other, stemming from the community," states the report. "During the previous six months, there had been 160 incidents of violence, 96 of which were assaults among children and 64 assaults on staff. The number of violent incidents had reduced by 20% since the previous inspection, which was positive, but rates of violence remained high and were higher than similar young offender institutions.

"Thirteen incidents had been recorded as serious which was fewer than at our last inspection. A serious, violent incident had occurred shortly before our visit which had resulted in many members of staff requiring hospital treatment and had understandably affected the confidence and morale of staff."

Inspectors had also found no evidence of a credible violence reduction strategy - something that Rob Preece, spokesman for the Howard League for Penal Reform, has called a massive cause for concern.

Speaking to Kent Online said that violent incidents such as the recent one at Cookham Wood were likely to scar children for life, and the Howard League maintained that "prison is not the place for a child".

Rob Preece from the Howard League for Penal Reform, speaking to Kent Online

"They go through Cookham Wood and they're left with lasting hellish experiences that will never leave them and will hold them back as adults," he added, and suggested 'secure children's homes' were the best alternative.

"We have an opportunity to stop this happening before we get these violent incidents in places like Cookham Wood," he added. "The police act as gatekeepers to the system. The Howard League has been working with Kent Police and other forces to reduce arrests of children, to ensure their life chances aren't blighted, to ensure they have the chance to go on and achieve further education, employment, and go on to lead law abiding lives.

"That's where our focus should be - not in building more places like Cookham Wood and throwing more children in there with no thought for the consequences."

A summary of today's report noted progress had been inconsistent since the last full inspection, where inspectors had been concerned about high levels of violence, poor provision of purposeful activity, and bad behaviour going unchallenged by staff.

Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons, described the results as “mixed”, adding: “The governor and his team were starting to deliver some meaningful progress driven by investment from the Youth Custody Service."

“However, the new regime needs to be implemented properly and then further improved to demonstrate to all children that resolving conflict and making progress will be rewarded with more productive time out of cell.”

Today's report goes on to note children displayed widespread low-level poor behaviour and were not challenged by staff; that cell observation panels were blocked and basic standards, such as graffiti and dirty, unkempt cells, remained unchallenged.

Inspectors found there was little done to reward good behaviour and most children had described the current system as unfair.

However it also found the "resettlement provision" had improved significantly, and that release on temporary licence had been bolstered by additional checks when determining a child’s suitability.

Mr Taylor said: “Ultimately, success will depend on leaders’ ability to create a culture where staff expect consistently high standards and support children to achieve them.”