THE government is to step in to take over the running of scandal-hit private youth prison Medway Secure Training Centre from G4S.

It was at the centre of claims that staff assaulted children in their care.

A source told the BBC that the prison in Rochester, Kent, would be taken over by the Ministry of Justice and run through the National Offender Management Service by the end of July.

Although the MoJ did not confirm the reports, it is understood a decision will be announced next week ahead of a report into the future of the facility.

The source said that the report, commissioned by ministers to examine improvements at the centre, would make “uncomfortable” reading for G4S.

Police began investigating the running of Medway after it was made the target of a BBC Panorama exposé this year.

As a result, five men were arrested on suspicion of either child neglect or assault and were released on bail.

The programme included footage apparently showing staff mistreating and abusing inmates at the unit, which houses 12 to 17-year-olds both on remand and after conviction.

Allegations made by 10 boys aged 14 to 17 included the use of unnecessary force, foul language and a cover-up at the centre.

Five staff were sacked and three more suspended while the unit’s director Ralph Marchant stood down.

Howard League for Penal Reform campaign director Andrew Neilson said it had been warning of abuse in secure training centres for years.

“Our worst fears were confirmed when one BBC reporter gained access into one houseblock of one secure training centre with one camera and filmed enough material to make a Panorama documentary,” he said.

“The government’s decision to stop G4S running Medway should be the first step in a move towards its closure. We await further information from ministers.”

A G4S spokesman said: “The behaviour of some of our staff at Medway revealed in January was completely unacceptable.”