Kelly Challenge Over Youth Custody Report

NI Stormont Junior Minister, Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly is seeking an urgent meeting with the author of a damning report in to youthg custody facilities in NI.

He wants to speak to the Criminal Justice Inspector, Kit Chivers to discuss his new report into Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre.

The Junior Minister, who along with Jeffrey Donaldson, has special responsibility for children and young people, said he was "deeply concerned" about the prison inspection report.

"The report makes for disturbing reading with the inspectors finding the Prison Service unable to meet even the very basic needs of these young men.

"I am very concerned to learn that juveniles are treated inappropriately on arrival with the procedures found to be brusque and intimidating.

"That the quality of the food is poor, opportunities for exercise rare and young offenders are spending most of their day locked up in a cell is deeply worrying," he said.

"These young men also need adequate opportunities to learn and develop new skills with education and training clearly linked to their resettlement programmes. What does it say about us as a society that this is how we treat our young offenders.

"I note the fact that the authorities have taken the recommendations on board and I will be keeping a close eye on future developments.

"I will now be seeking an urgent meeting with Kit Chivers and intend to seek a visit to Hydebank to speak to both inmates and the governor to hear their views," Minister Kelly added.

The NI Education Minister Caitríona Ruane has also commented on the report from the prisons inspector on Hydebank young offenders centre.

The Minister said: "I visited Hydebank last year to see at first hand the educational facilities provided for the young men by the NIO.

"Following the visit I wrote in November to Shaun Woodward (Secretary of State) and also to the Human Rights Commissioner to highlight my real concerns about poor provision of educational opportunities. I also raised these issues during a separate meeting with Paul Goggins, (Prisons' Minister)."

She said that the report from the prisons inspector was to be welcomed, but it must prompt an immediate programme of improvements.

"It validates concerns I raised last year about educational provision and also identifies many other areas for urgent attention. These young men deserve to be given appropriate opportunities to improve their resettlement prospects, and education can help do that," she said.

Yesterday's report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons and the Criminal Justice Inspector recommended more than 180 improvements for the Hydebank centre.

They said many prisoners spend up to 20 hours a day locked in cells and the disciplinary system is overly punitive.

However, Prison Service Director Robin Masefield said he was pleased with progress made at the centre since the inspection, but added that more work needed to be done.

Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre in south Belfast, accommodates male prisoners aged from 16 to 21.

Inspectors who visited the centre in November said it did not perform effectively against any of four tests used to assess conditions.

(BMcC)