Health officials called in after rodents ‘infest’ prison cells
MOUSE AND RAT PROBLEM FOLLOWS DAMNING REPORT BY INSPECTORS
ENVIRONMENTAL health officers have been called in to a prison after reports of a growing infestation of rats and mice.
One former inmate has described how rodents can get into cells at Forest Bank prison in Salford and chew up prisoners’ food.
The claims come a month after the privately run prison – operated by Sodexo for the Ministry of Justice – was savaged in an inspectorate report which concluded the jail was ‘unable to fulfil its role successfully.’
The same report also noted ‘an ongoing problem with mice.’
Yesterday, prison officials confirmed a council environmental health official had visited the jail, sited on the banks of the River Irwell in Agecroft.
One recently-released inmate told the M.E.N: “You wake up in the morning and half your food has been chewed at. It’s horrendous. There are rat droppings everywhere.
“They give us a plastic box to keep our food in but it still gets eaten.”
He said inmates fashioned ‘rodent excluders’ from socks and toilet roll to prevent unwelcome visitors, but to no avail.
The former prisoner described how about 20 inmates were given a free
Dominos pizza after they were ordered to scrub the kitchen.
“It should be clean anyway,” he said. He added: “I’ve never seen so many clueless people in one place and I’m not just talking about the cons.
“It’s run by very young girls with fake eye lashes and curls. The management haven’t got a clue. It’s frightening. I’m just glad I’m out.”
The M.E.N. put all the points made by the ex-prisoner to Forest Bank but a spokesperson would only say: “We can confirm an environmental health officer from Salford City Council recently visited HMP Forest Bank. We are fully committed to providing a clean and safe environment.”
Last month’s damning report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons detailed ‘cramped and overcrowded cells.’ The watchdog’s unannounced visit in February found the jail had 1,354 prisoners, nearly 300 above its baseline capacity.
It went on: “While communal areas were generally clean, most of the wings were unwelcoming and there was an ongoing problem with mice. Outdoor areas were bleak and exercise yards were small and bare. Shower areas were grubby, and drainage was
poor.”