A young offenders institution is "not safe enough," according to a report from the HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

Cookham Wood, in Sir Evelyn Road, Rochester, was found to be "insufficiently good" following an inspection.

It currently holds up to 188 boys aged between 15 and 18 and was assessed in September.

Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons, Peter Clarke, said the level of violence at the site, some of which was serious, remained high.

He said: “Work was in place to resolve conflict, supported by a comprehensive behaviour management strategy, but much of this was impeded by the shortage or regular re-deployment of staff.

"In addition, too much low-level poor behaviour went unchallenged and too little was done to encourage fuller engagement among children.”

He explained how an "overreliance" on keep apart lists meant safety was undermined, which hindered a "full and smoothly-run" regime.

Further investigation showed 28% of children were locked in their cells during the school day, with most only getting five hours a day out of their cell during the week and two hours at weekends.

It added access to the gym and library was restricted and despite improvements in provision, punctuality and attendance at eduction training was poor.

Use of force from members of staff has increased, according to the report, and required restraint techniques was used in more than half of incidents.

Mr Clarke went on to add how children found themselves segregated on two of the prison's units, Bridge and Phoenix.

"The purpose of these units required clarification and the regime for children on them was too limited, despite the attention of caring and supportive staff,” he said.

"The lack of suitable accommodation for children being released was very concerning..."

The report found the relationship between staff and children at Cookham Wood wasn't good enough, with only two thirds of inmates feeling respected, before adding staff didn't have enough time to engage meaningfully with them.

Mr Clarke labelled the prison's resttlement work as "disappointing", saying it lacked focus and co-ordination. He added how the release on temporary licence assessments and public protection work weren't "sufficiently robust".

“The lack of suitable accommodation for children being released was very concerning,” he said.

The prison inspector mentioned how the impending closure of Medway Secure Training Centre and progress at Feltham YOI could aid staff issues.

Mr Clarke said: "Despite these disappointing verdicts, local managers sought to provide some context in terms of their frustration at being unable to recruit and retain sufficient staff.

"Some improvements were evident, but so was some deterioration..."

"New recruitment initiatives were underway and there was some hope that the impending closure of the adjacent Medway Secure Training Centre (STC) would lead to an influx of transferred staff in the new year.”

“Staff shortages, however, could not have come at a worse time as the institution was running near capacity as children were diverted away from Feltham A YOI, as that institution responded to the urgent notification we issued to it earlier in 2019.

“In the coming year, progress at Feltham will hopefully ease population pressures at Cookham Wood and the prospect of new staff provides some assurance that managers will be better placed to resolve the problems we identified.

"At this inspection we saw many hard-working staff and managers, and some improvements were evident, but so was some deterioration."

Robert Preece, campaigns and communications manager at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "It is very troubling, and it is a sign of escalation of pressure on Cookham Wood, and the prison system more generally - and it isn't going to help us reduce crime and turn lives around.

"Operational chaos and incompetence are no excuse for failing to give children the basic things they need.

"I think we need to close places like Cookham Wood. The solution to this problem is to keep children out of prison in the first place, so we don't have children being hurt and we can help children to realise their potential.

"Children are being pushed from pillar to post in a system that isn't helping them, and isn't helping us to keep people safe and to turn lives around.

"We need to find the solution now, and it starts with keeping children out of prison and giving them the care and support they deserve before they end up in the system"

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