Latest news with #youngoffenders
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Stoke-on-Trent: Some children too scared to leave cells
Some children at a young offenders institute in Staffordshire say they are too scared to leave their cells, according to an inspectors' Werrington was also criticised for, on occasions, not unlocking the children's cells for several days in a row and for not giving them enough access to Inspectorate of Prisons made unannounced visits to the site near Stoke-on-Trent from 15 April to 2 May.A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, which runs the site, said they were committed to tackling the issues outlined in the report. "Education is fundamental to reducing reoffending," they said."We have already taken action to embed daily welfare checks and ensure there is more time for youth justice workers to support young offenders with meaningful activities." Inspectors reported offenders spending too long locked up and said staff failed to manage behaviour well enough. HMYOI Werrington houses 81 boys aged between 15 and 18, their report to inspectors, a survey of the children revealed that only about a third of them felt cared for by said about a fifth of children reported feeling unsafe said the curriculum at HMYOI Werrington was not challenging enough and did not help children prepare for life they did report that the latest inspection had found a more stable leadership than in previous years, with the governor being in post since the previous visit, and improvements had been made to address previous staffing shortages. It was last inspected in 2023, when it was found to be "an unstable establishment in need of substantial support".It was also described in a 2022 report as having higher levels of violence than any other in England and Wales. 'Completely unacceptable' HM chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor said: "Despite clear improvement in safeguarding procedures and some concerted efforts to reduce conflict and violence, the key challenges of weak relationships between staff and children and ineffective behaviour management remained."He added there was a culture of control and separation and that the average time out of cell was just three and a half hours per day."This would be poor in any prison but is completely unacceptable in one holding children," Mr Taylor time was largely taken up with managing the separation of those who had to be kept apart for safety reasons, the report noted, however, that the governor and her team were aware of shortcomings and had enacted an improvement plan to address them the month before the inspection. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- BBC News
'Boy's sentence for killing my dad is unanswerable'
The daughter of an 80-year-old man who died after being attacked in a park has called for tougher sentences for young Kohli died in hospital a day after being assaulted while walking his dog at Franklin Park in Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, in September.A 15-year-old boy was sentenced to seven years in custody for manslaughter on 5 June, while a 13-year-old girl was given a three-year youth rehabilitation order and made subject to a six-month curfew for the same to BBC Breakfast, Susan Kohli called for guidelines on sentencing for young offenders to be changed. Ms Kohli said: "We are having so many incidents and crime reports that involve youngsters and they know that because they're youngsters, they're not going to serve the full weight of the law, because it's half an adult sentence."But you choose to do an adult crime, so why not be punished accordingly? Yes, the boy has been sentenced to seven years, on good behaviour three and a half years - he's served nine months of that already."He's going to be out in two years and nine months for taking my dad's life - it's just unanswerable."It needs to change, and I'm hoping we're able to try and get that change to hold the young offenders accountable for what they do." Mid Leicestershire MP Peter Bedford and Alberto Costa, MP for South Leicestershire, wrote to the Attorney General's Office (AGO) calling for the sentences to be AGO previously told the BBC it had received several requests to review the sentences given to the pair, who cannot be named due to their ages. If the Attorney General and Solicitor General agree the sentence appears unduly lenient, they can ask the Court of Appeal to review the sentence. The AGO said it is still within the statutory 28-day period for referrals to the Court of Appeal. During the sentencing hearing on 5 June, prosecutor Harpreet Sandu KC said Mr Kohli was subjected to a "seven-and-a-half minute period of continuing aggression" at the boy racially abused Mr Kohli, attacked him and slapped him in the face with a slider shoe, while the girl encouraged the assault and laughed as she filmed it on her girl encouraged the assault and laughed as she filmed it on her phone. Both were convicted of manslaughter.
The Sun
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Jail violence falls when Love Island is on TV as lags are hooked, claim prison officers
PRISON officers say they are delighted Love Island is back on telly tonight — because warring inmates put their differences aside to follow the hit ITV dating show. Sources said wings on jails, and particularly young offender institutions, quieten down during the series as young lags are hooked on goings-on at the villa. One insider said you can 'hear a pin drop' at West London's Feltham prison for adult males and juveniles, Britain's most violent jail, at 9pm each night during the programme's run. There are fewer assaults on guards and fellow inmates as prisoners are glued to the show, hosted by Maya Jama. A source said: 'Attacks go down in the summer while Love Island is on. "Gangs put their differences aside. 'Officers are delighted when it starts, as it makes their lives easier and they get some respite. "Prisoners all discuss which girls they fancy — and which boys give them the hump.' The source added: 'The boys at Feltham aren't usually scared of punishments — the only thing that makes them behave is the fear of losing their TV during Love Island. 'They are all banged up by 9pm when it starts and it's the only time you will be able to hear a pin drop on a prison wing. 'Then there's a load of cheering and shouting when they find out which couple are being sent home — no lad wants to miss out on it.' Love Island 'reveals' first bombshell as Maya Jama gets special message from new Islander in surprise twist 1
Sky News
02-06-2025
- General
- Sky News
Personal trainer jailed over 'first date' chase that ended in crash involving five police cars
A personal trainer who admitted dangerous driving on a first date that ended in a police car pile-up has been sentenced to one year and two months in a young offenders' institution. Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, was taking a woman home in the early hours of 9 April when his driving triggered a car chase and eventual crash involving five police cars. Seven officers ended up in hospital, and one of their cars had its roof torn off in the dramatic collision that left debris strewn across the A1 near Newcastle. At Newcastle Crown Court in April, Azarbonyad admitted a series of driving offences, including driving without insurance several times after the crash, and failing to stop. The incident happened after police had tried to stop his powerful BMW in the Whickham area of Gateshead because they were concerned about how it was being driven. Azarbonyad and his female passenger were both uninjured. The woman, aged in her 20s, was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving but was later told she would face no further action. However, Northumbria Police said she remains on bail on suspicion of drug possession. Defending, solicitor Jack Lovell had told the court the defendant, of Durham, had shown genuine remorse for his actions. Please refresh the page for the latest version.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Five youths charged after bear spray attack near Calgary Transit bus
Police vehicles at Calgary Police Service headquarters in Calgary on Thursday, April 9, 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh) Five young offenders – three girls and two boys – have been charged in connection with an incident where bear spray was deployed near a Calgary Transit bus. Police said at 3:40 p.m. on Friday, May 23, two groups of youths got into a fight at a bus stop near Third Street and 61 Avenue S.W. near the Chinook CTrain station. Officials say one group attempted to get onto the bus, but the second group used bear spray near the door. The fumes affected the victims as well as the bus driver and passengers already on the bus. The suspects fled the scene but were arrested a short time later. Police say three girls, aged 14, 15 and 16, and two boys, aged 14 and 16, have been charged with four counts each of assault with a weapon. The 14-year-old girl was also charged with failure to comply with a release order. Additional charges against the 16-year-old boy include two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of an imitation weapon and failing to comply with a release order. None of the accused can be named due to the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:
