Bored inmates at Rochester Young Offenders' Institute are spending too much time in their cells and the few activities they have are mundane and undemanding, a report released today says.

They need to have more work to do and 'other purposeful activity' says Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, publishing the report of an announced inspection.

HMYOI Rochester holds young men aged 18 to 21. The report accepted that due to the nature of the buildings and the 'challenging behaviour' it was a difficult prison to run.

Inspectors were concerned to find that:

• too many prisoners were locked in their cells during the day, and some could have as little as one hour a day out of their cell;
• the activities on offer were often undemanding, with repetitive and mundane work, low achievement in many education courses and poor punctuality and attendance;
• the impact of security measures was in some cases too restrictive and risk averse, such as the use of release on temporary licence to take part in community placements;
• use of force by staff was high, but governance of this was weak; and
• although prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm were generally well cared for, some had been held in segregation or in a special cell, which were completely unsuitable environments.

On the plus side the inspection found:

• despite a rise in violent incidents, most prisoners said they felt safe in the prison and drug use was low.