- New specialist
staff to bolster safety and security
- Anti-drone measures such
as new windows and netting to clamp down
on illicit items
- Ramp up of prisoner discipline
hearings to tackle bad behaviour
Extra specialist staff, improved training for frontline
officers and bolstered anti-drone measures will be deployed at
HMP Swaleside as part of
Government action to urgently turn the prison
around.
The jail received an Urgent Notification in December, with
inspectors raising concerns about high levels of
violence and self-harm, the prevalence of
drugs, and poor living conditions.
The Prison Service has today (14 January) published a new action
plan in direct response to the
notification with the aim of rapidly improving safety and
standards. This includes installing new windows and
netting to
combat drones delivering contraband, hiring
specialist search teams and dog handlers to crack down on drugs
and weapons, and improved safety training for staff.
There will also be a greater focus on cleanliness with a new
strategy to improve standards both inside and outside the
prison, while vital maintenance and refurbishments will be
completed over the coming months.
, Minister for Prisons,
Probation and Reducing Reoffending, said:
“The Chief Inspector's findings at HMP Swaleside were
deeply concerning and clearly not acceptable. This reflects the
scale of the crisis we inherited across our prison system.
“I visited the prison last week and saw firsthand
the efforts of hardworking staff to deliver the
necessary improvements, and this action plan
will support them in this vital work.”
More rule-breaking prisoners will also face consequences for
their actions through a ramp up of disciplinary
hearings to bring order to the prison.
Today's announcement follows wider Government action to
improve safety across the prison estate, including
rolling out protective body armour to frontline officers and
investing £40 million to boost security and clamp down on the
contraband that fuels violence behind bars.
