National Preventive Mechanism Tenth Annual Report 2018–19 In England and Wales, levels of violence across YOIs and STCs remained high and bullying, often connected to the operations of gangs, was a constant concern. However, there was some improvement in overall safety outcomes, which was a positive finding following HMI Prisons’ conclusion in February 2017 that no such establishments were safe to hold children. Nevertheless, all three STCs in England were still deemed by Ofsted, HMI Prisons and the CQC to ‘require improvement to be good’. These judgements reflected concerns about high levels of violence, use of force and physical restraint, the safety of children and staff, and the levels of skill and knowledge among staff to care appropriately for the children. HMI Prisons considered that most children in YOIs were not spending enough time out of their cells66 and all YOI IMBs in England reported that there was a problem of ‘keep aparts’ where a young person cannot be placed on certain units for his own safety, or because there is a high risk of him assaulting others.67 Of the 13 secure children’s homes, nine were judged by Ofsted as at least good and four were judged as ‘requires improvement to be good’.68 There were no self-inflicted deaths in YOIs or STCs during 2018–19 in England and Wales. Levels of self-harm had remained the same at Wetherby and Werrington and were lower than in other establishments. Self-harm had decreased at both Feltham A and Parc, but remained high on the Keppel Unit at Wetherby, reflecting the fact that it provides care to some of the most vulnerable young people in England. In HMI Prisons’ survey, 49% of children in YOIs and 62% of children in STCs said that they had been physically restrained while in custody. Use of force had increased at Werrington and Wetherby YOIs, and on the Keppel Unit. However, HMI Prisons noted that most behaviour management strategies had made a welcome shift towards instilling a reward-led culture that encouraged good behaviour. These positive initiatives needed to be embedded more widely. HMI Prisons also recognised that there had been some improvements in tackling and reducing violence among the complex population of young men held at Feltham A – assaults on boys had reduced by a third and assaults on staff had reduced by more than 80%. Nevertheless, the Inspectorate noted that this could ‘prove to be fragile if investment falls away or leadership loses its focus.’69 The proportion of children and young people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds detained in youth custody continued to increase, having been steadily rising since the year ending 2011 when it was 29.7%. In England and Wales, for the year ending March 2018, more than half (51%) of boys in YOIs and 42% of children in STCs identified 66 HM Inspectorate of Prisons, July 2019, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales Annual report 2018-19, https:// assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/814689/hmip-annualreport-2018-19.pdf [accessed 18/10/19]. 67 Written Evidence from the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMBs) to Justice Committee inquiry into Children and Young People in Custody http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/justicecommittee/children-and-young-people-in-custody/written/106134.html [accessed 05/12/19] 68 A further one remained as ‘inadequate’ from an inspection in October 2016. This provision is temporarily closed and there been no children living at the home since 2016. 69 The Chief Inspector of Prisons triggered the Urgent Notification process for HMP Feltham A on 24 July 2019 on the basis of a marked decline in safety and care. 28