The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has released concerning figures indicating a significant rise in assaults across the young people secure estate during the 2025-2026 reporting period. This latest data reveals a worrying trend in the safety and welfare of both young people and staff within Young Offender Institutions (YOIs), Secure Training Centres (STCs), and Secure Children’s Homes (SCHs) across England and Wales. The increase encompasses both assaults on staff and peer-on-peer violence, prompting renewed calls for comprehensive reform and immediate intervention to address the underlying issues contributing to this escalating tension.
Key Findings from the 2025-2026 Data
The recently published MoJ statistics paint a stark picture of the challenges facing the youth secure estate. For the period spanning April 2025 to March 2026, the total number of assault incidents recorded within these facilities saw a substantial increase compared to the previous reporting year. While specific percentages are yet to be fully disaggregated for all types of incidents, preliminary figures indicate a marked rise in both physical assaults against staff members and incidents of violence between young people.
Assaults on staff, which include punching, kicking, and more serious forms of aggression, showed a particular upward trajectory. This category often serves as a critical indicator of the overall stability and safety of the custodial environment. The data suggests that staff are increasingly facing heightened risks in their daily duties, raising concerns about their well-being, morale, and the ability to maintain order and deliver rehabilitative programs effectively.
Similarly, peer-on-peer assaults also registered a notable increase. These incidents range from minor altercations to more severe attacks requiring medical attention, often resulting in injuries, psychological distress, and a pervasive sense of insecurity among the young people detained. Such violence undermines the rehabilitative purpose of the secure estate, creating an environment where vulnerability can be exploited and trust eroded. The types of incidents reported vary widely, from spontaneous clashes to premeditated acts, sometimes involving groups of young people, and occasionally escalating into serious disturbances.
The MoJ report also highlighted regional variations and differences across facility types. While some establishments managed to maintain stability or even see minor reductions, the overall national picture was one of significant deterioration. Secure Training Centres, known for housing a particularly complex cohort of young people, often demonstrated some of the highest rates of incidents, though all types of secure facilities recorded increases. This broad impact suggests systemic pressures rather than isolated incidents.
Contextualising the Youth Secure Estate
The youth secure estate is designed to accommodate young people, typically aged 10 to 17, who have been remanded or sentenced to custody by the courts. These facilities are intended to provide a safe, secure, and rehabilitative environment where young people can address their offending behaviour, access education, vocational training, and therapeutic interventions, and ultimately prepare for a successful return to their communities. However, the population within these institutions is inherently vulnerable, often presenting with a complex array of needs.
Many young people entering the secure estate have histories of trauma, abuse, neglect, and exposure to violence. A significant proportion also live with undiagnosed or diagnosed mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and substance misuse issues. These factors can exacerbate behavioural challenges and make engagement with rehabilitative programmes difficult, contributing to an environment ripe for conflict if not managed with extreme care and specialist expertise.
The secure estate operates under immense pressure, balancing the imperatives of security and control with the fundamental rights and developmental needs of children. Staff members are required to possess a unique skill set, combining correctional expertise with child safeguarding and therapeutic approaches. The effectiveness of the system is heavily reliant on adequate staffing levels, comprehensive training, and robust support systems for both the young people and those who care for them.
Historically, the youth justice system has undergone numerous reforms, often in response to public inquiries and concerns about the welfare of young people in custody. From the phasing out of traditional borstals to the introduction of STCs and SCHs with a greater emphasis on education and welfare, the landscape has continually evolved. However, persistent challenges related to funding, staff recruitment and retention, and the increasing complexity of the young people’s needs have often hampered progress.
A Chronology of Mounting Concerns
The increase in assaults in 2025-2026 did not emerge in a vacuum but rather follows a period of fluctuating stability and persistent warnings from oversight bodies and advocacy groups.
- Early 2020s: Following a peak in violence in the late 2010s, concerted efforts by the Youth Custody Service and individual institutions led to some improvements in safety metrics. Initiatives focused on de-escalation training, enhanced mental health support, and redesigned daily regimes showed promise, resulting in a modest decline in assault figures between 2020 and 2022.
- 2023-2024: This period saw a plateauing of improvements, with some indicators suggesting a slight upward creep in incidents. Reports from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) and the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMBs) began to highlight concerns about staff shortages, increased use of restrictive practices, and a perceived decline in the quality of therapeutic provision in certain establishments.
- Late 2024: Several high-profile incidents, including serious assaults and disturbances within specific facilities, drew public attention and prompted calls for an urgent review of safety protocols. Advocacy groups, such as the Howard League for Penal Reform and the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, issued statements warning that the system was becoming increasingly fragile under resource pressures.
- Early 2025: The government announced a renewed focus on staff recruitment and retention within the youth secure estate, acknowledging the challenges. However, the impact of these measures was not expected to be immediate, with training pipelines requiring significant time to yield fully qualified personnel.
- April 2025 – March 2026 (Reporting Period): The current MoJ data reflects the culmination of these pressures, showing a clear reversal of any positive trends seen earlier in the decade. The data collection, which is meticulously compiled from incident reports within each facility, was finalised in early 2026, leading to its recent publication. This latest report underscores the critical need for an immediate and robust response.
Supporting Data and Underlying Factors
While the MoJ report focuses on assault figures, a deeper analysis often reveals a confluence of factors contributing to such trends.
- Staffing Levels and Experience: Reports from various oversight bodies consistently link violence to insufficient staffing, particularly a lack of experienced and well-trained personnel. When staff-to-young person ratios are strained, it becomes harder to build positive relationships, detect early signs of conflict, and intervene effectively. High staff turnover, often driven by challenging working conditions and comparatively low pay, exacerbates this issue, leading to a less stable and experienced workforce.
- Regime Design and Activity: A restrictive or unstimulating daily regime can significantly contribute to tension and frustration among young people. Limited access to education, vocational training, sports, and constructive recreational activities can lead to boredom, disengagement, and a build-up of restless energy, which often manifests as aggression. Conversely, well-structured and engaging regimes that offer opportunities for personal development and positive interaction tend to correlate with lower rates of violence.
- Mental Health and Welfare Provision: The increasing complexity of young people’s needs, particularly in relation to mental health, places immense pressure on the secure estate. A lack of timely access to specialist mental health services, including psychological therapies and psychiatric support, means that underlying issues that drive challenging behaviour often go unaddressed. This can lead to crises that escalate into violent incidents.
- Facility Design and Infrastructure: The physical environment itself can play a role. Overcrowding, poor ventilation, lack of personal space, and dilapidated facilities can contribute to a sense of claustrophobia and tension. Conversely, modern, purpose-built facilities designed with therapeutic principles in mind often provide a more calming and conducive environment for rehabilitation.
- Demographics of the Youth Secure Population: While the overall population in the youth secure estate has generally declined over the past decade due to a greater emphasis on diversion and community alternatives, the cohort that remains is often characterized by higher levels of complexity and risk. They may have committed more serious offences, have more extensive criminal histories, and present with more profound social and psychological challenges, making their management more demanding.
- Use of Force Data: Often correlated with assault figures, the data on the use of force by staff can provide additional insight. A rise in assaults might lead to a reactive increase in the use of force, or conversely, an overuse of force might provoke further resistance and aggression. Understanding this interplay is crucial for developing effective de-escalation strategies.
Official Responses and Stakeholder Reactions
The MoJ data has elicited a range of reactions from key stakeholders involved in youth justice.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice acknowledged the seriousness of the findings, stating: "We are deeply concerned by the increase in assault incidents within the youth secure estate during 2025-26. The safety and welfare of both the young people in our care and the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to support them are our absolute priorities. We are committed to understanding the root causes of this increase and are actively reviewing current practices across all secure settings." The spokesperson further detailed ongoing initiatives, including "accelerated recruitment drives for frontline staff, enhanced de-escalation and therapeutic training programmes, and a review of daily regimes to ensure they are sufficiently rehabilitative and engaging." They also emphasized continued collaboration with the Youth Justice Board and external experts to implement evidence-based interventions.
The Youth Justice Board (YJB), responsible for overseeing the youth justice system, echoed the MoJ’s concerns. A YJB representative commented: "These figures underscore the persistent challenges within the secure estate. We are working closely with providers and the Ministry of Justice to ensure that facilities are safe, secure, and rehabilitative environments. Our focus remains on supporting young people to turn their lives around, and this cannot be achieved amidst rising violence. We advocate for continued investment in staff development, therapeutic approaches, and robust oversight mechanisms to drive improvements."
Youth advocacy groups and charities expressed profound alarm at the data. A representative from the Howard League for Penal Reform stated: "This alarming increase in assaults is a stark reminder that the youth justice system is failing to adequately protect some of the most vulnerable children in society. These are children who have often experienced significant trauma and need care, not an environment where violence is escalating. We need a fundamental shift away from a punitive approach towards one rooted in welfare, mental health support, and genuine opportunities for education and personal growth. The government must address the underlying causes, including chronic understaffing and inadequate provision of therapeutic services, rather than simply reacting to symptoms."
Similarly, a spokesperson for the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) highlighted the implications for children’s rights. "Every child in custody has the right to a safe environment free from violence. The MoJ’s own data shows that this right is not being consistently upheld. We urge the government to listen to the voices of children and young people, invest in specialist support, and ensure that secure settings truly prioritise their well-being and rehabilitation in line with international human rights standards."
Opposition parties also weighed in, with the Shadow Justice Secretary calling the figures "a damning indictment of the government’s handling of youth justice." They argued for greater transparency, increased funding for youth services, and a strategic plan to reduce reliance on secure custody where appropriate, investing instead in early intervention and community-based solutions.
Broader Impact and Implications
The rise in assaults in the young people secure estate has far-reaching implications that extend beyond the immediate safety concerns within the facilities.
- For Young People: An increase in violence means a higher risk of physical injury, psychological trauma, and a pervasive sense of fear. Such an environment is detrimental to their mental health, hinders their ability to engage in education and therapy, and can exacerbate existing behavioural issues. It undermines the very purpose of custody, which is to rehabilitate and prevent reoffending. Young people leaving such an environment may be less equipped to integrate positively back into society, potentially perpetuating cycles of violence and incarceration.
- For Staff: The heightened risk of assault takes a significant toll on the well-being and morale of frontline staff. It can lead to increased stress, burnout, absenteeism, and difficulty in recruitment and retention. When staff feel unsafe or unsupported, their ability to provide compassionate and effective care is compromised, creating a vicious cycle where a less stable workforce further contributes to instability.
- For the Youth Justice System: The figures raise serious questions about the effectiveness and humanity of the current youth secure estate. They highlight systemic weaknesses and resource deficiencies that undermine public confidence in the system’s ability to safely manage and rehabilitate young offenders. This can lead to increased scrutiny, calls for more drastic reforms, and potentially a re-evaluation of the role and structure of youth custody.
- Policy Implications: The data demands a robust policy response. This could include significant new investment in staffing, training, and mental health services; a fundamental review of daily regimes to ensure they are genuinely rehabilitative; and exploring alternatives to secure custody for young people who do not pose an immediate public safety risk but could benefit from intensive community-based interventions. There is also a renewed impetus to focus on preventative measures, addressing the root causes of youth offending, such as poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and family breakdown, long before young people enter the justice system.
- Public Perception: A rise in violence within secure facilities for young people often fuels public concern about crime and safety. It can also lead to a more punitive public discourse, potentially making it harder to advocate for the rehabilitative and welfare-focused approaches that are ultimately more effective in reducing reoffending.
The MoJ’s 2025-2026 data serves as a critical wake-up call, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive and sustained action to ensure that the youth secure estate lives up to its mandate of providing safe, secure, and genuinely rehabilitative environments for some of society’s most vulnerable young people. The challenges are complex, but the imperative to protect young people and staff, and to foster environments conducive to positive change, remains paramount.
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