Feltham Young Offenders Institution And Youth Justice

EDM number 137 in 2017-19, proposed by Seema Malhotra on 05/07/2017.
Categorised under the topics of Children and families, Further education, Prisons and Standards.

That this House notes the recent report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons of the unannounced inspection of Feltham Young Offenders Institution; further notes the High Court ruling that a 16-year old prisoner was unlawfully denied access to education and the ability to mix with other inmates; notes that Feltham A, which houses boys aged 15 to 18, has seen a decline in standards, increased levels of violence and use of force since the last inspection in 2015, with HM Chief Inspector of Prisons saying it is quite simply, not safe for either staff or boys, and the restricted regime to which they were subjected did little or nothing to contribute to their education, socialisation or, clearly, their safety; notes that 19,000 hours of schooling were lost last year through non-attendance and class cancellation, and boys were on average receiving 7.5 hours of schooling a week; notes that staff numbers have fallen by 23 per cent since 2013; notes that the report praises the hard work and courage of the staff working in very difficult and often dangerous conditions but describes shortages limiting their capacity to act, stating for example the antisocial behaviour team were too often redeployed to other duties due to staffing shortages; and calls on the Government to urgently review Feltham and other young offender institutions' staffing levels, funding and safety.

This motion has been signed by a total of 17 MPs.