HMP/YOI Thorn Cross was a safe and decent prison with good work,
training and education provision for prisoners, and support to
help them resettle back into communities, said Peter Clarke,
Chief Inspector of Prisons. Managers and staff were to be
congratulated, he added. Today he published the report of an
unannounced inspection of the open prison in Cheshire.
HMP/YOI Thorn Cross holds just over 380 prisoners. In recent
years it has evolved from an institution holding mainly young
prisoners to one that holds prisoners of all ages and sentence
lengths. At this inspection nearly three-quarters of the
population were aged 30 or over and the majority were serving
sentences in excess of four years. Thorn Cross has been a good
establishment for many years. Its last inspection in 2012 was
positive and it remained a well-led and confident institution,
receiving inspectors’ highest judgement in all areas inspected.
Inspectors were pleased to find that:
- very few prisoners said they felt unsafe, good support was
provided for new arrivals and there were few violent incidents;
- the number of prisoners at risk of self-harm was few, but
those in crisis received adequate support;
- security was proportionate;
- drug services were excellent;
- the environment and accommodation were good;
- staff-prisoner relationships were overwhelmingly positive;
- prisoners had very good time out of their cells and were able
to access good education and vocational training opportunities;
and
- public protection arrangements were sound and services to
help prisoners resettle back into the community were also good.
Some prisoners expressed frustration about the perceived fairness
of the release on temporary licence (ROTL) scheme, where
prisoners work outside the prison. The prison should do more to
understand and address those negative perceptions.
Peter Clarke said:
“We concluded our inspection at a time when the prison was about
to change governors so faced a time of potential disruption. The
prison, however, was on a firm footing and well placed for the
future. Managers and staff were to be congratulated for their
hard work and success.”
Michael Spurr, Chief Executive Officer of the National Offender
Management Service, said:
“I am pleased that the Chief Inspector has recognised the
excellent work taking place at HMP/YOI Thorn Cross in providing
education and vocational training opportunities for
prisoners.
“I want to pay tribute to the commitment and professionalism of
staff at Thorn Cross, who have created a positive environment and
have continued to deliver good outcomes for the prisoners in
their care.”
- ENDS -
Notes to editors:
- A copy of the full report can be found on the HM Inspectorate
of Prisons website from 5 January 2017 at: www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent
inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on
conditions and treatment, and promote positive outcomes for those
detained and the public.
- HMP/YOI Thorn Cross is a category D open resettlement
establishment for young adult and adult male prisoners.
- This unannounced inspection was carried out from 1-12 August
2016.
