Press releases

REF: PR/022/08

DATE: 21st July 2008

To: MPs
ALL POLITICAL EDITORS
ALL INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENTS

PRESS RELEASE
NO EMBARGO

UNANNOUNCED FULL FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION INTO HMP DONCASTER BY HM CHIEF INSPECTOR OF PRISONS

The report by HMCIP into HMP Doncaster has raised some serious areas of concern, which need to be taken on board by the Ministry of Justice.  Previously, HMCIP had criticised aspects of safety, the squalid and poorly equipped accommodation and lack of purposeful activity.  On this unannounced inspection they found a worrying deterioration in healthcare and little progress in expanding purposeful activity

More of a concern is the increase in violence and self harm and facilities in anti-bullying and suicide prevention arrangements, key issues to safe and decent prisons.  Furthermore, the inspection found that cells designed for one person were being doubled up and in some instances a bed had been placed in the toilet to manage the overcrowding.

Colin Moses National Chairman of the POA said:

“The use of private prisons is simply wrong.  Clearly, profit is being put before prisoner welfare, staff, prisoner and public safety alike and the practice of trebling in a cell for one is disgraceful.

“The Ministry of Justice must take a serious look at this report and consider whether private prisons are fit for purpose and remember New Labours mantra on coming to power, “Private Prisons are morally Repugnant”. What was morally repugnant to New Labour should also be morally repugnant to consider placing Titan prison in the hands of profiteers.  Prisons should not be run for profit, but for the public good.  New Labour should abandon its plans for further privatisation”.

Brian Caton General Secretary of the POA said:

“The deterioration in the provision of Healthcare and suicide prevention policies is disgraceful.  Private prisons hide behind commercial in confidence, which prevents the public from knowing what is really happening behind the private prison walls.

“This Union has and will continue to campaign for the removal of the private sector from our prisons.  Public prisons should be operated by public servants and the Government should be ashamed that they are simply using prisoners as tool-kits, so that the private sector can drive down the cost of public sector workers without any thought to decency”.

For further information contact:
POA Press Office: 020 8803 0255 Option 7

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