Editing HM Prison Cookham Wood

{{Short description|Young persons' prison in Kent, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox prison
| prison_name    = HMP Cookham Wood
| image          =
| caption        =
| location       = [[Rochester, Kent|Rochester]], [[Kent]], ME1 3LU
| coordinates    =
| status         =
| classification = [[Prisoner security categories in the United Kingdom|Juveniles/Young offenders]]
| capacity       =
| population     = 188
| populationdate = December 2020
| opened         = {{Start date and age|1978}}
| closed         =
| former_name    =
| managed_by     = [[Her Majesty's Prison Service|HM Prison Services]]
| governor       = Paul Crossey
| website        = {{HM prison|cookham-wood|Cookham Wood}}
}}
'''HM Prison Cookham Wood''' is a male young persons' prison and [[Young Offenders Institution]] in the village of [[Borstal, Rochester|Borstal]] (near [[Rochester, Kent|Rochester]]) in [[Kent]], [[England]]. The prison is operated by [[HM Prison and Probation Service|His Majesty's Prison and probation Service]]. This prison has now been repurposed as an Adult Cat C prison. This article is out of date.

==History==
The prison was built in 1978, next to [[Rochester (HM Prison)|HMP Rochester]] and was named Cookham Wood [[Young Offenders Institution]]. The new prison was originally for young men, but its use was changed to meet the growing need for secure female accommodation at the time.

In 1998 the prison started accepting female juvenile offenders (aged 12–14), and was refurbished for that purpose. The costs involved with the refurbishment and the new facilities provided at the prison led to the media branding Cookham Wood "Britain's most controversial jail".{{cn|date=April 2022}}

In a 2003 report the [[Prison Reform Trust]] criticised Cookham Wood for being one of the most overcrowded women's prison in the UK. The report also highlighted serious drug misuse amongst inmates at the prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2896729.stm |title=UK &#124; England &#124; Crowded jail 'has drug problem' |publisher=BBC News |date=2003-03-28 |access-date=2013-04-12}}</ref> However, a 2005 report by [[Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons|His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons]] commended the prison for improving standards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4459518.stm |title=UK &#124; England &#124; Kent &#124; Prison shows 'marked improvement' |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-11-22 |access-date=2013-04-12}}</ref>

In 2007 the Prison Service announced that Cookham Wood would be converted to accept male young offenders. This was due to increased demand for places in men's prisons in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6919112.stm |title=UK &#124; England &#124; Kent &#124; Jail to become secure youth unit |publisher=BBC News |date=2007-07-27 |access-date=2013-04-12}}</ref> Cookham Wood formally started taking male prisoners during 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/aug/05/inspector-criticises-cookham-wood-prison|title = Youths found hiding in cells at Cookham Wood, says prisons inspector|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = 4 August 2009}}</ref>

==The prison today==
Cookham Wood is a Young Persons establishment, holding males aged 15 to 18. Accommodation at the prison consists of single occupancy cells.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder/cookham-wood|title = Cookham Wood Young Offender Institution| date=18 June 2024 }}</ref>

All young people have access to showers, and 45 minutes outside in the open air every day. The prison operates a resettlement programme for young people coming to the end of their sentences, and has links to community groups and employers.

In February 2014, the UK prison watchdog - the Independent Monitoring Boards - announced that they had serious concerns over the safety and decency for children at HMYOI Cookham Wood. The IMB 2022/23 IMB report highlighted the following concerns:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://imb.org.uk/news/serious-concerns-over-safety-and-decency-for-children-at-hmyoi-cookham-wood/ | title=Serious concerns over safety and decency for children at HMYOI Cookham Wood | date=15 February 2024 }}</ref>

* An inhumane length of time spent locked in cells– up to 22 hours a day.
* Inconsistency and last-minute changes to the boys’ daily timetable due to a lack of available staff – a source of constant frustration for the boys.
* Far too many boys were separated from others, a strategy used to “keep boys safe by keeping them apart”. This, in the IMB’s view, generates fearfulness and an expectation of violence amongst the boys.
* Inadequate officer numbers to meet the boys’ needs.

The prison is scheduled to be repurposed as an adult prison in August/September 2024 and will initially accommodate those jailed arising from the [[2024 United Kingdom riots]].<ref>https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2024-08-06/kent-prison-repurposed-to-house-expected-influx-of-riot-criminals {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

==Notable former inmates==
* [[Myra Hindley]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/ian-brady-myra-hindley-moors-murders-pictures/myra-hindley-pictured-1994-let-cookham-wood-prison-kent-hospital/|title = Ian Brady and Myra Hindley and the Moors Murders: In pictures|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 16 May 2017}}</ref>
* [[Judy Carne]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-06-25-ca-20197-story.html|title=Archives|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=25 June 1986 }}</ref>
* [[Sandra Gregory]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/jul/22/drugsandalcohol.thailand|title = Pardon for drug smuggler jailed in Thailand|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = 21 July 2000}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.justice.gov.uk/global/contacts/noms/prison-finder/cookham-wood/ Ministry of Justice pages on Cookham Wood] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013051117/http://www.justice.gov.uk/global/contacts/noms/prison-finder/cookham-wood/ |date=13 October 2011 }}
* [http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/?s&location=cookham-wood HMYOI Cookham Wood - HM Inspectorate of Prisons Reports]

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{{Prisons in South East England}}
{{Women's prisons in England}}

[[Category:Prisons in Kent|Cookham Wood]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in England]]