PRT comment: HMYOI Parc

Commenting on today’s report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on conditions at HMYOI Parc, Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

“Positive inspection reports of children’s custody are all too rare, so it is right to welcome this encouraging assessment of HMYOI Parc and to recognise staff for creating a calm, purposeful environment for children.

“Parc has clearly shown what is possible. If one unit can deliver meaningful time out of cell, strong education and a child‑focused culture, this should be the norm rather than the exception. Too many children elsewhere continue to spend excessive periods locked behind their doors, with damaging consequences for their wellbeing and development.

“Prison is no place for a child but, for the small number who do need to be held in a secure setting, this inspection demonstrates that children can be kept safely, humanely and constructively when the right leadership, staffing and priorities are in place. The government’s recently published Youth Justice White Paper now provides an opportunity to reduce the numbers in custody and ensure that, for those who are detained, this level of provision becomes standard across the youth justice system.”