Prison
Cat YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Cookham Wood
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 23 April 2025
HMYOI Cookham Wood operated as a young offender institution until its closure in May 2024, after a period of significant instability and an Urgent Notification from HMIP. Throughout much of the reporting period, boys experienced an unpredictable regime with limited time out of cell and inconsistent education due to resource shortages. However, a marked improvement in the regime was observed in the final weeks as the population decreased, demonstrating the potential for a more humane environment with sufficient staffing. The closure process itself raised major concerns regarding leadership, communication, and the impact on relocated boys and specialist staff.
Positive Findings
The reception process was generally positive, with staff making efforts to ease new arrivals and respond to feedback. Isolated positive experiences included conflict resolution, Rule 49 meetings, and sports provision. Physical appearance and cleanliness of the estate improved. The reduced population prior to closure led to a significantly improved, more humane regime with increased time out of cell, longer education, and calmer, more contented boys. Healthcare standards were good, and education provision, including exam opportunities, improved considerably. Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) continued to be a strength, offering innovative opportunities until the final week.
Key Concerns
Safety
Cookham Wood was an unstable and unsettling place for the boys during this period. Makeshift weapons were commonplace, despite improved training for staff in using metal-detection wands and a weapons amnesty being introduced to reset the regime. The continued uncertainty bred fear and anxiety; and many boys continued to see makeshift weapons as a way of keeping them safe.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Many boys were angry and frustrated at being locked in their rooms for long periods of time. Overall, many boys continued to experience a regime that failed to meet the minimum of at least two hours per day out of room, as set by the United Nations. This regime continued for over six months after the Urgent Notification, which is inhumane in the Board’s view. Being locked in rooms for over 20 hours a day meant many interactions between boys and prison staff were conducted through locked doors.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The constantly changing regimes and broken promises about time out of their rooms, association time, family social visits and education pathways were the main complaints the Board received from the boys in this period. This shattered trust and left individuals with low self-esteem.
Staffing
The IMB was concerned about the impact of the poor behaviour by a small number of boys disrupting the opportunities for others. The failure to have sufficient officers to manage movements meant education wasn’t regular enough, although this did improve as the number of boys fell at Cookham Wood.
Resettlement/Release
The decision to freeze new admissions and ultimately close Cookham Wood came out of the blue, causing significant uncertainty and increased anxiety for all boys regarding placements and access to their families. For staff, a lack of any concrete information in a timely manner caused tensions and damaged morale.
Other
The IMB has seen an appalling lack of clarity of leadership and a similar lack of clear, impactful project management regarding the closure. Lack of timely information created, and continues to create, a vacuum into which speculation has been rife, affecting staff morale and potentially impacting the boys in their care.
Other
There has been no reassurance about how budgets will be deployed to provide improved entitlements for the boys who transitioned from Cookham Wood.
Staffing
There remains a vacuum of information for officers who hold enhanced youth status regarding how these highly trained individuals will be deployed, risking them not being able to use their training or having to relocate.
Other
The way in which decisions have been taken has left IMB members feeling exposed and uncertain about their futures, despite undertaking an important public role.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff morale was low, initially due to exhaustion and demoralisation reported in the Urgent Notification, and further damaged by a lack of concrete information regarding the YOI's closure. Despite this, some staff demonstrated dedication by engaging meaningfully with boys. The improved staff-to-boy ratio in the final weeks positively impacted the regime. However, there remains a significant lack of clarity for officers with enhanced youth status about their future deployment, potentially leading to relocation or underutilization of their specialized training.
Healthcare
The standard of healthcare at Cookham Wood was generally good. The boys had good access to dental services, and attendance at hospital appointments was typically well-managed by the facility.
Regime & Daily Life
For most of the reporting period, the regime at Cookham Wood was characterized by unpredictability, inconsistency, and a lack of resources, leading to boys experiencing fear of violence and limited educational opportunities. Many boys were often locked in their rooms for over 20 hours a day, falling short of the minimum two hours out of cell standard, especially in evenings and at weekends. However, as the population decreased towards closure, the regime significantly improved, allowing for more time out of cell, increased education, and a calmer atmosphere for the boys.
Recommendations (5)
Other: 3
HMPPS: 2
Recommendation 1
The Board recommends that there should be close scrutiny of the decisions taken in this restructure and re-roling of a YOI to determine lessons learned and how those lessons are being disseminated.
Other
(minister)
Policy/Oversight
Recommendation 2
Will the Minister examine the costs incurred by the YCS and the wider HMPPS in this project (not least the penalties incurred in terminating contracts early, such as will have been the case with Novus, the education provider)?
Other
(minister)
Financial
Recommendation 3
Will the Minister evaluate the potential for a better way of working in the English YOI estate?
Other
(minister)
Policy/Estate
Recommendation 4
How has the closure of Cookham Wood improved the outcomes for those boys moved to other YOIs and, crucially, how has the decision to reduce the youth estate by one impacted the outcomes for all boys in the youth estate?
HMPPS
Resettlement/Outcomes
Recommendation 5
Men now held in Cookham Wood should be offered an appropriate regime, supportive of their preparation for release.
HMPPS
Regime/Resettlement
Other IMB Reports for Cookham Wood
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.
Prevention of Future Deaths Reports
Coroner PFD reports issued to this establishment.