Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many staff members of (1) young offender institutions, and (2) secure training centres, have been dismissed since 2009 for reasons connected with the sexual abuse of children in these institutions.
Answered on
18 March 2019
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) centrally holds the data on conduct and disciplinary cases. The data includes sexual harassment/assault; however, it is not specifically recorded as sexual abuse of children. The data also could relate to sexual harassment against other staff or children in these settings.
Between 2009/10 and 2017/18, there were fewer than 5 staff who had been dismissed for charges of ‘sexual harassment/assault’ in young offender institutions (Cookham Wood, Feltham, Wetherby, Werrington). There were no staff dismissed for ‘sexual harassment/assault’ in Parc YOI, or in Medway and Rainsbrook[1] Secure Training Centres (STCs).
Between the period of 2009/10 and 2017/18, there has been fewer than 5 staff who had been dismissal at Oakhill STC for reasons connected with the sexual abuse of children.
The safety, welfare and rehabilitation of young people in our care is the core priority of the Youth Custody Service and that is why we are fundamentally committed in reforming the youth custody service. HMPPS will not tolerate any form of abuse against the young people in our care and we will assist the police with their investigation into any allegation.
1 Since MTCnovo took over the contract at Rainsbrook STC in 2016 there has been no dismissals.