GIRLS in custody are 12 times more likely to self-harm than boys and more likely to be restrained, a damning review by prison and education watchdogs has found. 

The report by HMI Prisons, HMI Probation, Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission and Care Inspectorate Wales, published today, warns that the national custody system is “failing” vulnerable girls. 

The inspectorates identified “very concerning” safety issues particularly around self-harm and the use of restraint. Of the 17 girls included in the review, 14 had self-harmed prior to or during their time in custody. 

The report highlighted figures from the Youth Custody Service, which showed that in the 12 months to December 2021, girls had self-harmed at a rate of 2,395 incidents per 100 girls — more than 12 times the rate of boys.

Data from 2021 also shows that girls in custody are almost six times more likely to be physically restrained than boys. 

The inspectors found that restraint was often used as a response to self-harm, adding that they found little evidence of staff supporting girls in distress after these incidents. 

“One girl we spoke to was restrained six times in one night in response to her self-harm,” the inspectors wrote. “This was clearly traumatising and could potentially increase the risk of further attempts. 

“The vicious cycle of self-harm and restraint needs to be addressed urgently.”

As a result of the pandemic, there were only 14 girls in custody at the time the review took place, all of whom were held in secure children’s homes and Wetherby young offender institution (YOI). All had experiences of trauma and complex needs.

Inspectors also raised concerns about cases of girls with high levels of need being transferred to Wetherby YOI, despite the site having the least resources to support them. 

Wetherby is a boys’ prison that has been used to incarcerate girls following the closure of Rainsbrook STC earlier this year.  

Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said the report shows that the situation for girls at the boys’ youth jail is “not sustainable or tenable.”

He said: “The government must come up with a long-term solution so that vulnerable girls are not being held in a prison that is already failing boys, and which is not resourced to meet their needs.” 

A Youth Custody Service spokesperson said: “While the number of girls in custody has fallen dramatically over the last decade, we are investing £300 million in the youth justice system to help divert even more vulnerable children away from crime.

“These girls have exceptionally complex needs and we are building the first-ever Secure School to put education, training and rehabilitation at the heart of our efforts to get the best possible outcome for every child in our care.”