Steroid abuse out of control in young offender’s institute, By: Ben Rossington

Sept 14, 2007

A YOUNG offenders institute housing Merseyside youths has been flooded with steroids.

A new report says inmates at Thorn Cross, an open correctional facility in Warrington, are being caught using the body-building drugs in worrying numbers.

Thorn Cross houses under-21-year-olds serving the last leg of their custodial sentence.

The 321-capacity facility has no fences and gives inmates the chance to prove they can conform and behave.

It only takes those convicted of less serious offences.

But because of the openness of the grounds, dealers are finding it easy to leave packages of drugs for inmates to pick up.

The Independent Monitoring Board report says that Thorn Cross, which is sent youngsters by courts in Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester, is well run by dedicated staff but needs to tackle the problem of steroid abuse which has grown quickly in recent months.

Governor Derek Harrison said: “Steroid use is a big problem in society and problems in society often creep into the correctional system.

“Young men are particularly interested in bulking up their bodies and we have found, through our random testing programme, that inmates are using steroids.

“When we find them, the lads are sent back to a more traditional facility, such as Altcourse or Hindley.

“To try to dissuade others from using we have taken the heavier weights out of the gym and tried to educate them on the dangers of steroids.

“Not only is there evidence that steroid abuse leads to added aggression, it also damages the body and its organs.

“We are doing all we can to stop the abuse spreading.”

The IMB report showed that youngsters who go through Thorn Cross and are made responsible for their own actions are much less likely to reoffend.