THE country's oldest purpose-built working detention centre has been praised for its positive atmosphere in the latest report into conditions.

The report into Northallerton Young Offenders' Institution by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), pays tribute to staff who, it said, have kept morale high during a difficult period of change.

It also commends the increased amount of time that inmates now spend out of their cells and the Chaplaincy, which it said makes a positive contribution to their wellbeing.

However, it also identified several areas of concern, including the large catchment area of the institution.

The report said the catchment area was creating a group of youngsters, often with "tribal differences", who had the added problem of being able to receive few visits from family and friends because of the distance from their homes.

Deputy governor Dave Pearson said yesterday that steps had been taken to deal with the problem.

He said: "Whilst the catchment area is large, the visiting times have been enhanced to allow families to spend longer on their visit, especially those who have travelled long distances.

"Overall, this is a positive report, which highlights some of the progress the staff have made during the year."

Other areas of concern included in the report are the crowded accommodation on A-Wing, where the cells were built for one but house two inmates, and the lack of an outside physical activity area.

Mr Pearson said: "Whilst accepting the areas of concern raised, I would like to point out that the young men at Northallerton do have access to a very well-equipped gymnasium, which is in operation every day and most evenings.

"All prisoners now have access to exercise in the open air every day.

"It is necessary to double prisoners in cells because of population pressures, but we do now have a robust cell-cleaning policy to improve the general environment."

IMB chairwoman Jacqueline Wells said: "The inhibitions are the physical structure of the place.

"Obviously, we are never going to be able to extend the area because of where it is, but the whole atmosphere is very positive and very rehabilitational."