Inspectors visiting Wetherby Young Offender Institution (YOI) found that an all-male team of prison officers had removed the clothes of a vulnerable girl twice. The inmate had been stripped in order to stop her from harming herself using her clothes. The report also said that among the inmates, self-harm was “extremely high,” particularly in the case of this specific girl. Such high levels were putting a lot of pressure on staff, as they had to be vigilant to prevent attempts and assaults.
While prison representatives stated that restraint is only used in rare circumstances when there is no alternative to prevent serious harm to the child, the inspectors were deeply shocked at the use of adult male officers to carry out such a delicate and personal task. According to the report, the presence of multiple men stripping a highly vulnerable girl twice causes further trauma. The YOI had no excuse for not having female officers in attendance.
Wetherby YOI houses some of the most complex and vulnerable youth offenders in the country, including those serving life sentences. The report found that despite the best efforts of staff, there was no effective model of custody for these very vulnerable children, emphasising the critical need for reform of youth justice across England and Wales.
Andrea Coomber, of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said that “it is appalling that the state’s care for vulnerable children could sink to such depths.” The report has prompted calls for the government to take comprehensive action to improve the lives of youth offenders in correctional facilities across the country. The ministry of justice, for its part, said that custody should always be the last option for children who behave in a criminal manner. They also emphasised HMYOI Wetherby’s commitment to increasing support, training, and offering opportunities for meaningful activity, education, and personal development
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