Staff Hit Out At Security At Riot-Hit Children’s Unit

STAFF at a riot-hit secure unit say management are risking their lives by being soft on the child inmates. Two dangerous teenagers went on the run after the latest outbreak of rioting, in which workers were slashed and battered.

Staff say police were only called after six hours of mayhem on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

By then, they claim, the rioters had set fire to rooms at the unit, St Mary’s Kenmure in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow.

Ten teenagers had broken out, although eight were caught. A ninth was being held by police last night and is expected in court today.

One worker said yesterday: “It’s supposed to be like Colditz for kids. But it’s more like Castle Chaos. The way things are going, it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed.”

The worker added: “We are dealing with murderers and rapists and yet we are expected to treat them with kid gloves.

“We have to be given the same training as prison guards and a much stricter regime.”

Police and fire crews were called to St Mary’s at 3.40am on Sunday as violence escalated.

There were 12 arrests and the unit is now closed down while damage estimated at £100,000 is fixed.

Several members of staff say the trouble began at least six hours earlier after an incident on the unit’s football pitches.

Another employee said: “We told management to phone the police but they refused.

“They said we should be able to keep it under control and they’ve made it clear they want to avoid bad publicity. One guy got a cut to his throat and was lucky not to have his it slit.

“Another had a brick thrown at his head and dodged it but got hit on the shoulder.

“How far will it go before they finally realise this should not just be some soft care centre?”

The 36-bed unit houses youngsters with emotional and behavioural problems. Those referred for their own safety are mixed with violent offenders.

Local MSP David Whitton yesterday said he planned to raise the matter with ministers again.

He said: “Last week, I toured the facility and was told it had been designed to be escape-proof.

“Now we have a situation where not one but 10 of those who were being detained managed to get out.”