Nacro responds to the HM Inspectorate of Prisons report (23.09.2025) of children in custody which analysed 12–18-year-olds’ perceptions of their experiences in secure training centres and young offender institutions.
Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of Nacro, a social justice charity, said:
“This latest report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons is deeply alarming. The fact that so many children still feel unsafe, cut off from education, and unsupported by staff should prompt urgent action.
“Levels of violence remain unacceptably high – far higher than amongst adults. While too many children are spending long hours locked in their cells with little access to education and training. This approach risks entrenching disadvantage. These young people need care, support, and the opportunity to build brighter futures – not more trauma and neglect.
“Custody should always be a last resort, and when it is used, it must be safe and focused on helping children turn their lives around. The Government must act now to address these failings and ensure every child in custody has the chance to thrive, not just survive.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
HMIP report, Children in custody 2024–25
Learn more about our work
We operate in more than 40 prisons and provide services across England and Wales.
We help 33,000 people across our services each year and run the CAS-2 service for the Government housing people coming out of prison on bail or licence.
We work with people at every stage of the criminal justice system, from liaison and diversion services in police custody and courts, to resettlement into the community after prison.
We use the insights from our services and the experiences of the people we support to campaign together for a criminal justice system which better serves us all. We’ve been working in this field for more than 50 years.