Young offender institution to become adult prison

According to HM Chief Inspector of Prisons' report dated April last year, the site was about two-thirds full and held 77 boys

Young offender institution Cookham Wood is to be repurposed as an adult prison after facing criticism over its "violent" culture and long periods spent by juveniles in their cells.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced that the centre in Rochester, Kent, which is used to detain boys aged between 15 and 17, would operate as an adult male prison by the summer with the youth offenders being moved to other secure sites.

According to HM Chief Inspector of Prisons' report from April last year, the site was about two-thirds full and held 77 boys.

A MoJ spokesman said that an action plan was established by the Youth Custody Service but added it had "become clear the further improvements needed cannot be delivered at the scale required in an acceptable time frame".

The report stated: "The most evident failing at Cookham Wood was the near total breakdown in behaviour management.

"Nearly a quarter of the boys told us they felt unsafe. This was perhaps unsurprising in view of the prevalence of delinquent behaviour and the number of weapons found - more than 200 in the months leading up to the inspection."

As part of the report, Cookham Wood was issued an Urgent Notification over concerns around the standard of care being provided to young offenders with complex needs.

"Turn their backs on crime"

The spokesman added: "In a bid to boost to prison capacity the establishment will operate as an adult male prison as early as the summer, while options are being reviewed for its longer-term use.

"Young offenders currently housed at Cookham Wood will be moved to other sites across the secure youth estate to provide the continued support needed for them to turn their backs on crime for good."

The transfers will be done in a supervised manner and on a case-by-case basis, including considering family ties.

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