Jenny Chapman MP, Labour’s Shadow Justice Minister, responding to the Chief Inspector of Prisons’ report on HMYOI Cookham Wood, said:

“This is yet another worrying report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons.

“Staff shortages, high levels of violence and boys spending too much time locked up in cells means many Young Offenders Institutions are not suited to rehabilitating offenders and protecting the public from re-offending.

“It is time that Ministers woke up to the crisis in our prisons and addressed the ‘systemic’ issues identified by Nick Hardwick.”