'It's mixed report on a prison that has a way to go before it can realise its full potential...'

BUT INSPECTION TEAM SAYS THERE WERE IMPROVEMENTS

- By ZENA HAWLEY

INMATES at a prison on the Staffordshire and Derbyshire border continue to be affected by high levels of violence and self-harm, the availability of drugs and some unacceptable behaviour from staff, who were labelled 'uncaring and dismissive' by an inspection report.

Despite there being some improvements since HMP Foston Hall was last inspected in 2021, it still has the highest number of violent incidents in the country.

The report from the two-week unannounced January 2025 inspection found that although violence was rarely serious and violence against staff was falling, self-harm was also too high, despite a fall in incidents.

The availability of drugs and very high levels of mental health need were contributing to the problems with violence in the jail.