It has been revealed young inmates at a scandal-hit youth jail have been able to access porn, as the latest Ofsted report rates the centre inadequate.

The report said two USB sticks containing highly inappropriate material had been found in areas accessed by young people at Medway Secure Training Centre.

Inspectors found it was clear that young people had been able to access pornography but that it was not clear how many had been involved.

The centre in Rochester has been subject to repeated inspections and increased checks since January when a BBC documentary showed staff appearing to use excessive force to restrain youngsters, children being bullied by staff, officers lying when reporting incidents and staff boasting about hurting inmates.

The latest inspection was carried out over six days in June when G4S was still in charge of the centre, and the report was released this morning.

Inspectors rated Medway STC's overall effectiveness as inadequate with the following categories also rated inadequate; the safety of young people, promoting positive behaviour, the care of young people, and the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

Resettlement of young people and health of young people were rated as good, while the achievement of young people requires improvement.

Levels of violence at the STC are "very high and growing" including incidents between young people and violence towards staff, but there is not strategy in place to address this.

The report said that the stability of the centre has been undermined by a combination of factors including G4S's withdrawal from the contract, the TV documentary, changes in director, the findings of the Medway Improvement Board and the ongoing police investigation.

The findings of the board and G4S improvement plan have not been implemented, and actions which could have helped to stabilise and improve day to day life have not taken place - for example, maintaining things such as door locks, and ensuring good communication between staff and youngsters.

Andrew Neilson, from the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “This damning report underscores why it is welcome G4S are no longer running Medway secure training centre.

“Children in Medway are not safe and, given the allegations that were made in the Panorama documentary in January, it is shocking to see that violence is under reported and medical treatment is being inadequately recorded. This cannot go on.

“It is not simply the secure training centres which have proved failed models of child custody. In both young offender institutions and secure training centres we see problems of violence and cultures far removed from the caring environments children need. Radical action is required.”

"Children in Medway are not safe and it is shocking to see that violence is under reported" - Andrew Neilson, Howard League

The loss of a significant number of staff through criminal investigations and/or employment misconduct findings, as well as dismissals, suspensions and resignations have left vacuums which have been filled by staff who do not have sufficient training or experience.

Inspectors have made a series of recommendations to be implemented either immediately or within three or six months.

These include ensuring all child protection matters are dealt with in line with statutory guidance; a review of CCTV coverage; and ensure all data collection, such as when force is used, is accurate.

Lord McNally, chairman of the Youth Justice Board which oversees youth justice in England and Wales, said:“The findings from Ofsted are completely unacceptable.

“I am determined that Medway STC should have the strong leadership, management and monitoring needed to deliver the quality and standards of care we all expect and which are essential for the safety and wellbeing of the children who are placed there.

"Our newly appointed chief executive, Colin Allars, has been to Medway STC and is working with all who have a part to play, to ensure that the new regime acts immediately and decisively on all of Ofsted’s findings.”

Medway STC has been run by the Ministry for Justice’s National Offender Management Service (NOMS) since the start of July.

Managing director for G4S custodial and detention services, Jerry Petherick, who took over the management of the company’s two secure training centres before the transfer, said: "This report is deeply disappointing, coming as it does after a number of years in which OFSTED rated Medway as good or outstanding.

“This was clearly a period of intense disruption which created uncertainty and instability for the young people and staff at the centre and it proved extremely challenging to maintain appropriate staffing levels and standards.

“The management of Medway STC has now been transferred to NOMS, and the lessons learned at Medway will be applied through a far-reaching review of our standards, skills and processes at Oakhill, our remaining STC near Milton Keynes. I fully expect this to translate into substantial changes to the way in which the centre is run.

“We will be giving our full support to the new Youth Custody Improvement Board, as it begins its important work to assess the entire youth secure estate, to ensure that young people in custody are safe and that standards of behaviour management are improved upon.”