Offenders' institute 'the most violent'

Nearly 400 assaults by inmates were recorded at Wetherby young offenders' institute in 2009/10 – the second highest of any in institution in the country.

Justice Minister Crispin Blunt revealed there had also been 85 assaults at Moorland Prison near Doncaster where more than 100 inmates rioted last week causing millions of pounds of damage.

Mr Blunt said: "Violence in prisons is not tolerated. The National Offender Management Service is working with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure that perpetrators of violence in prisons are dealt with through the courts where it is appropriate to do so."

The figures were released by Mr Blunt in response to a question from Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood.

Seventy prisoner assaults were reported at Wakefield prison, which houses some of the country's most notorious offenders, and 75 at Leeds, while there were 201 incidents at Doncaster and 92 at Hull.

HMYOI Wetherby is a former Naval Base which was turned into a borstal in 1958. It is now a male juvenile centre housing 360 trainees aged between 15 & 17.

The statistics released by Mr Blunt do not include assaults on prison officers.