A new report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons has found that standards in youth custody remain worryingly poor, with many children saying they do not feel safe. The Children in Custody 2025-26 report, published on 22 September 2026, surveyed children across five youth secure settings: Feltham, Parc, Werrington and Wetherby Young Offender Institutions, and Oakhill Secure Training Centre.
The findings make difficult reading for families. 39% of children said they had felt unsafe at some point in custody, and 14% still felt unsafe when surveyed. Only just over half felt cared for by most staff, and one in three said they had no member of staff they could turn to for help. Fewer than three in ten said they would report bullying if it happened to them. At Feltham and Werrington, boys were unlocked from their cells for less than four hours a day on average, and 16% of children were not taking part in any education, work or other purposeful activity.
There was one bright spot: Parc achieved good outcomes across all the healthy prison tests inspectors use. But Oakhill Secure Training Centre was placed under an Urgent Notification – the most serious step inspectors can take – over serious failings in safeguarding, leadership and healthcare. Chief Inspector Charlie Taylor said standards across the youth estate “remain woeful” despite falling custody numbers. For families of children in these settings, the report is a reminder of why independent inspection matters.