Feltham Young Offender institution ‘unacceptably violent’

This article covers the unnecessary high amounts of violence being used in the Feltham Prison and the Young Offender Institution. The institution, in west London, witnessed an average of almost two fights or assaults every day.  Chief inspector of prisons Nick Hardwick said: “Feltham as a whole is an unacceptably violent place.” In defence of the staff he added “Staff were sometimes overwhelmed by challenges they faced. As a consequence, some of their responses, such as the prolonged use of isolation and batons, were unacceptable.” National Offender Management Service chief Michael Spurr said he would make the institution safer by moving those on remand.

I think it is a shame such violence has to be used. The children in the Young Offender Institution range from 16 to 21 and are often kept in isolation for prolonged periods of time. I deem the excessive use of batons a complicated problem. On one hand you cannot just take away the guards batons, you would completely take away their means of self defence, thereby removing their safety. On the other hand it should not be necessary to have at least two fights or assaults every day. I think the removal of some inmates will calm things down.

Bibliography

BBC. BBC. July 10, 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23248433 (accessed July 10, 2013).