HUNDREDS of places for under 18s are being decommissioned at a young offenders institution.

The Youth Justice Board (YJB) announced yesterday, Thursday, that it will be reducing the number of places it commissions including all 248 places for under-18s at Hindley Young Offender Institution (YOI).

The YJB is also withdrawing 58 places at Hassockfield secure training centre (STC), County Durham due ‘to the welcome and continued reduction in the number of young people in custody’.

In statement, a spokesman for the YJB said: “The decisions have been taken following careful consideration of a number of factors.

“The decisions were not taken because of any concerns with the establishments’ performance, where hard-working staff have engaged effectively with young people.

“Individual relocation plans will be prepared for young people at Hassockfield and Hindley if their sentences extend beyond the date that the YJB vacates the establishments.

“The plans will minimise the impact of any necessary transfers, with the personal circumstances and welfare of each young person being carefully considered.”

The sites will stop taking young offenders with immediate affect and by March 2015, Hassockfield and Hindley will be returned to the Ministry of Justice, who will decide on the future use of the sites.

Existing spaces currently used for young adult males at Hindley YOI will remain in place.

Makerfield MP Yvonne Fovargue has said she is ‘disappointed’ with the decision.

She said: “The prison has a very good record of working with young offenders and I am concerned at the impact the changes will have on families visiting the prison who will now face substantially increased travel times to maintain contact and the impact on local jobs.

“I am also seeking clarification from the MoJ on its intentions for the future of the site.”