By Dominic Casciani BBC News Online community affairs reporter

Young offenders' institution: Three examined

The Children's Society says a majority interviewed for a study reported discrimination by prison staff.

But the Prison Service has rejected the research, saying there is not enough detail for it to assess the findings.

Earlier this year Law Lords ordered a public inquiry into the racist murder of a teenage Asian prisoner in 2000.

Institute interviews

In the research by the University of Central England, 45 male, black prisoners at three young offenders' institutes were interviewed.

What this research clearly indicates is the formal complaint procedures for racism exist in a parallel universe Professor David Wilson More on what the prisoners said

The report found a majority had experienced racism from prison officers - but little had been noticed by management.

One interviewee from a Midlands institute claimed he had been called "chimp" and "golliwog" by prison officers.

Another said a prison officer had compared him, in far stronger language, to soiled toilet paper.

Other allegations included no action on racist graffiti and a sense that prison officers would say things inside they would never say in public.

Professor David Wilson, a former prison governor and now with the University of Central England, said only five of the 45 prisoners knew of racism complaint channels.

"No matter what they say about being committed to good race relations, the reality is that direct and in-your-face racism still exists," said Prof Wilson.

"The overwhelming amount of racism is not being reported despite the fact that there are systems to do so. Only one of the cases detailed to me had been reported."

Branded racist

The research comes after years of controversy for the service, including an admission in 2000 by its former director that the organisation was "institutionally racist".

ZAHID MUBAREK Murdered in Feltham, March 2000, hours before his scheduled release Cell mate was known racist Race watchdog found catalogue of errors Public inquiry now ordered The murder of Zahid Mubarek

Earlier this year, the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) concluded that "systematic failings" had led to the racist murder of Asian prisoner Zahid Mubarek at Feltham Young Offenders' Institute in March 2000.

Law Lords this year ordered a public inquiry to be held into the murder, despite opposition from the Home Office.

But a spokesman for the Prison Service rejected Prof Wilson's criticisms, saying tackling racism was a priority which included new ways of reporting incidents.

"In the absence of any specific information about the incidents alluded to in this research, it is impossible to give a proper assessment," said the spokesman.

"The Prison Service would welcome seeing this information so that the important issues raised in the research can be investigated."

'Hurdles and hoops'

But Prof Wilson claimed the Prison Service had put "hurdles and hoops" in his way from the very beginning, including choosing the institutions and interviewees.

"What this research clearly indicates is the formal complaint procedures exist in a parallel universe," he said.

"Beneath that is the real world where racism in the penal system exists."

Jackie Worrall of Nacro, the ex-offenders and crime reduction charity, said Prison Service managers had displayed "unprecedented determination" to tackle racism.

"However, not only does the effectiveness of the new race equality policies vary in application from prison to prison, but concerns have been expressed over the way in which few complaints seem to be taken up," she said.

"These evident problems need urgent attention if racism is to be truly eradicated from each and every prison landing."