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Children held at a young offender institution in West Yorkshire have been making improvised weapons from items including door fixtures, food trolleys, aluminium sheets, windows and fencing, according to a new inspection review.
The findings relate to HMYOI Wetherby, where inspectors identified continuing concerns over violence and the availability of makeshift weapons. The latest national review by HM Inspectorate of Prisons examined conditions experienced by children aged between 12 and 18 across four young offender institutions and one secure training centre between April 2025 and March 2026.
The report found that violence remained a serious concern across much of the youth custody estate, with children at several establishments spending long periods locked in their cells and facing limited access to education and support.
At Wetherby, inspectors reported that children had begun making different types of improvised weapons after razor blades were banned.
Some of the replacement weapons were considered more dangerous than those previously being used, according to the findings. Items available within the institution were adapted or dismantled to create objects capable of causing serious injury.
The report also found that metal-detecting wands did not always identify weapons being carried by children.
Wetherby has previously faced concerns about violence and the use of improvised weapons. During an earlier inspection covering October and November 2025, HM Inspectorate of Prisons reported that levels of violence and self-harm remained high and that many violent incidents involved weapons.
The latest review recorded almost 500 assaults at Wetherby during the period examined.
The institution, which accommodates young males, has previously been identified by inspectors as facing significant challenges in maintaining safety. Earlier inspection findings also recorded concerns about the frequency of weapon-related assaults and the production of makeshift weapons.
The new findings form part of a broader assessment of youth custody in England and Wales rather than an inspection of Wetherby alone.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons said standards across the youth custody estate remained poor, despite some improvements at individual establishments.
The national review found that 39% of children surveyed said they had felt unsafe at some point during their time in custody.
Inspectors also found that children at most of the institutions examined were spending too much time behind their doors. At some establishments, boys were spending an average of fewer than four hours a day unlocked.
The inspectorate said violence continued to affect children's lives and that many were not receiving sufficient education or support to help them move away from offending.
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said that, although some establishments had made progress, standards across the youth custody estate remained poor.
He said children continued to experience high levels of violence, spend excessive periods locked in cells and frequently struggle to access education and other support.
The inspection did not identify problems exclusively.
Inspectors praised Wetherby's governor, Mark Scott, for developing work and vocational opportunities despite shortcomings in education provision.
The changes had helped some children spend more time outside their cells and provided greater opportunities to develop practical skills.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons also noted progress at other institutions. Werrington, for example, had reduced the use of weapons and improved its safety arrangements, while Parc Young Offender Institution was described as achieving good outcomes across the inspectorate's four healthy-prison tests.
However, inspectors said these improvements were not consistent across the youth custody estate.
The latest findings add to a series of inspections highlighting violence, self-harm, limited education and lengthy periods of confinement affecting children in custody.
A previous thematic review by HM Inspectorate of Prisons found that children at Wetherby, Werrington and Parc often had too little opportunity to build meaningful relationships with staff. Inspectors said such relationships were important for managing conflict, improving safety and supporting rehabilitation.
The latest review therefore raises questions not only about physical security but also about how effectively young people in custody are being supported to change their behaviour and prepare for release.
For Daily Dazzling Dawn, the findings underline the continuing challenges facing the youth justice system, particularly where violence, improvised weapons, limited time outside cells and inadequate access to education intersect.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent body responsible for inspecting places of detention and reporting on conditions and treatment. Its latest findings are intended to highlight areas requiring improvement across England and Wales.
