Prison inspection 'positive' despite drugs concerns

INSPECTORS have found a North East prison to be “well-run”, but concerns have also been raised over the availability of drugs and increased violence.

- DANIEL HALL

An unannounced inspection of HMP Northumberland was carried out in August and September this year, and a number of concerns have since been raised.

The recently published report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons found the category C prison to be “reasonably good” across all assessments.

The inspection found that there were generally good staff-prisoner relations that made the atmosphere across the jail positive; this was also reflected in the amount of staff assaults, which are among the lowest in the country.

However, there were a number of concerns raised. The report states that levels of violence had increased significantly since the previous inspection by more than 80%.

However, rates of assaults on both staff and prisoners remained below the average for similar prisons and there were fewer serious assaults.

The report said: “Disappointingly, there were not enough meaningful incentives to help prisoners behave well and many complained that, because there were not enough spaces on accredited programmes, they felt progression was limited.