An outsourced young offenders unit in Kent which faced allegations of staff assaulting children is reportedly set to be taken over by the Ministry of Justice.
According to both the BBC and the Guardian, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will take control of the Medway Secure Training Centre which was contracted out to G4S. Medway has been run by G4S since it opened in 2008, and the direct running by NOMS would mark the first time the government has ever run a secure training centre.
Four men were arrested on suspicion of neglect after BBC Panorama revealed the assault claims earlier this year, with another held on suspicion of assault. All the men have since been released on bail.
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In a statement, the Ministry of Justice told CSW's sister site PoliticsHome: “Our priority will always be the safety and welfare of young people in custody – that is why the justice secretary set up an Independent Improvement Board to examine the running of Medway STC.
“This sits alongside a wider review of youth justice. We are considering a range of options and will announce the next steps in due course.”
In January, Michael Gove – the justice secretary – suggested the contract could be withdrawn from G4S if the firm was considered to have failed in its delivery.
“When any organisation fails in the delivery of public services… we will take steps to remove that contract,” he told MPs during Justice Questions.
“And of course, if G4S have failed in this regard then we will take all steps necessary to keep children safe.”