23 April 2004
The government is to spend £16m on building four specialist units to separate teenage girl prisoners from adults, Home Secretary David Blunkett has announced.
On a visit to Holloway prison in north London on April 20, Blunkett said all female inmates under the age of 18 in England and Wales will be housed in secure centres by 2006. There are currently 86 girls aged 15–17 held with adults in prison.
Two critical reports – one from the chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers, and the other from the education watchdog Ofsted – said this week that the system was failing 'this vulnerable and damaged group of young women'.
Blunkett said: 'The staff at Holloway do a very good job in difficult circumstances with people under 18, but these prisoners have a particular vulnerability and should be cared for by specialist staff with facilities that address their unique education health and social needs.'
The first girls will be moved from Holloway in the next year to a £3.5m unit at Downview prison near Sutton in Surrey.
PFapr2004
