YJB ‘ignored' complaints about youth custody

Details of the complaints from whistleblowers emerged in a report published today probing Medway Secure Training Centre in Kent, where allegations of mistreatment were uncovered in a BBC Panorama programme in February.

A report published by an independent improvement board that was appointed to investigate the governance and safeguarding measures at Medway STC, which is run by private firm G4S, states that complaints about all three STCs in England, had been raised “in numerous whistleblowing letters that were sent to the YJB”.

“When they spoke to them, the board was struck with the way all senior staff in G4S and the YJB voiced how surprised they were by the events depicted in the Panorama programme, yet the whistleblowing material that the board has seen suggests that very similar allegations have been made not once, but many times in the past,” the report states.

“These documents, when finally provided to the board, consisted of 35 separate digital documents dating back seven years. They came with very little evidence that a serious attempt had been made to organise the accumulated evidence or analyse the data.

“The board was very concerned that it appeared that YJB was aware for many years of a succession of concerns about G4S that were very similar in nature to those aired on the Panorama programme.

“The board remains concerned that complaints procedures and whistleblowing is not given enough priority by the YJB. There needs to be a more robust, consistent approach to dealing with concerns that are raised by those who have access to STCs, particularly staff.

Speaking in parliament today, Justice Secretary Michael Gove promised to transform the culture of secure training centres (STCs) and give the same amount of support as "ordinary schools”.

YJB chair, Lord McNally, said: “The Panorama programme triggered an immediate review by the YJB into why neither we, nor others, had identified the totally unacceptable behaviour by staff at Medway STC.
 
“As a matter of urgency, we enhanced our existing monitoring. We have now developed a more wide-ranging, robust and diverse system of monitoring for all STCs. This will deliver the greater scrutiny that is essential to protect children in custody. In this context we welcome the addition of STC governing bodies to support this work.
 
“We already actively advise ministers of our concerns about the secure estate and will continue to do so. We welcome the short term targeted input the new youth custody improvement board can provide to help make improvements for children in custody."

Lin Hinnigan, YJB chief executive, said: “Incidents were not ignored. We did take action to address individual incidents raised, including referring to relevant authorities, staff disciplinary and dismissal and changes to our practice.

"In incidents where no further action was taken, this was following investigation and based on thorough analysis of the evidence available to us."