Assaults increase at youth jail

"Purposeful activity" occupied just 14.4 hours a week

Feltham Young Offenders Institution recorded one assault for every two inmates last year, according to figures in the Prison Service's annual report.

The west London institution recorded 335 assaults during the 12 months beginning 1 April 2000 compared to 301 in the previous year, with 41 in August alone.

The average number of inmates held there during the year was 698.

The report also reveals that inmates spent an average of just 14.4 hours a week engaged in "purposeful activity" last year - the lowest figure in any male young offenders' institutions.

In addition a programme designed to deal with offending behaviour was not completed by a single inmate.

Drugs

The institution also fell down on drug testing. The report revealed that while the proportion of inmates testing positive for drugs fell from 21.2% to 18.9%, it remained the second highest in the country.

Europe's biggest youth jail, Feltham is the subject of what is expected to be a damning report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Sir David Ramsbotham, due to be published on Thursday.

In March last year Zahid Mubarek, 19, was bludgeoned to death by his racist cellmate just hours before he was due to be released from Feltham.

But figures in the first three months of the 2001/2002 year showing that the number of recorded assaults are lower than last year, with 27 in April, 22 in May and 24 in June.