Tory Privatised HMP Northumberland's most recent concerns in report released today
Some of the key findings from the report are listed below, which really confirms the continued concerns I and others have raised over a number of years since the Prison was Privatised.
Findings by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons released today reveals:
• Violence had more than doubled since the previous inspection in 2014
• 58% of prisoners had felt unsafe at some time - a significantly higher figure than at similar prisons and the last inspection
• Few of the shortcomings identified by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman’s investigations into the six self-inflicted deaths since 2014 had been addressed
• 61% of inmates said that it was easy or very easy to obtain illicit drugs in the jail
• 21% of prisoners said they had acquired a drug habit since entering the prison
• Inspectors were particularly concerned that 59% of inmates covered by multi-agency public protection arrangements to assess risk and protect the public were being released without confirmation of their MAPPA level
• There were also serious concerns about some aspects of medicines management
I am concerned that a 202% increase in violent assaults have been reported since the Prison was Privatised by the Tories. This reinforces my concern for the wellbeing of staff that work in HMP Northumberland and the practices that need to be addressed. I'm concerned that 20% of Prisoners have become addicted to drugs when entering Prison, this clearly demonstrates the availability of drugs within the prison and confirms that 61% of the inmates in HMP Northumberland were correct that drugs are easy to get hold of.
My main concerns remain around the safety of the staff who work there and the resources that are being lifted from the local community into the Prison. Staff should be able to go to work and be as safe as possible and resource should be provided for them to do that. The local community and others need to feel assured that the environment within the Prison is improving and this doesn't seem to be the case.
I'm concerned too that often vulnerable people are becoming addicted to drugs when they enter the Prison and therefore have long lasting issues to deal with when leaving. This also creates increased pressures on a system already under pressure on the outside world.
The Government promised intervention and investigations following the Panorama Programme clearly issues remain of great concern, I just wonder how far they plan to let it go before actually doing something. This is a continuation of a clear example that Privatisation does not work and Prison contracts should be returned to Government.
