‘Painting parties’ to help reduce violence in prisons
Jail where inmates ‘took over’ to be test site for scheme to create culture of work and learning
PRISONERS will be made to take part in “painting parties” and taught to keep their cells tidy as part of an initiative to curb violence in jails, ministers have announced.
HMP Bedford, which was put into special measures because of disorder there earlier this year, will be a test site for the scheme, which aims to teach prisoners to take pride in their surroundings.
They will take part in “painting parties” as well as cleaning the prison. Inspectors have revealed the jail was infested with rats, while concerns were raised about access to showers and clean clothes for some inmates.
Extra drug checks, more perimeter security, guidance for staff and better disciplinary policies will also be intro- duced, the Justice Secretary said, in a bid to turn the prison around.
In a document published yesterday the Ministry of Justice said: “HMP Bedford will become a national pilot site for the clean and decent programme which will introduce a painting party and additional cleaning parties, alongside new cleaning schedules and systems to make immediate and sustained improvements to standards of cleanliness throughout the prison.”
It added that experts would be brought in to “teach prisoners the best way of keeping their cells clean and tidy, reducing the prevalence of vermin and improving conditions”.
The chief inspector of prisons issued an urgent notice about the jail in September after warning that inmates had effectively taken control and that drugs and violence were rife.
Announcing the Government’s plan yesterday, David Gauke, the Justice Secretary, accepted Bedford had been “facing problems”.
He added: “Additional experienced officers will be brought in, we’ve reduced the number of prisoners and are providing special training for newer members of staff – all of which will ensure order is restored and maintained in the long-term. I am confident that greater security will stem the flow of drugs, which is fuelling violence, and allow staff to properly focus on creating a culture of work and learning that will help turn prisoners’ lives around.”
During the Conservative party conference, Rory Stewart, the prisons minister, admitted austerity and cutbacks were to blame for the violence.
During the Beford inspection officials
‘I heard today... that staff are going to be given pepper PAVA sprays. What an admission of failure’
found evidence of rat infestation, overcrowding, drug problems, violence and a lack of respect for guards.
Under the new plans, more patrols, new window grilles and extra searches of staff will be introduced to rein in the number of illegal substances being brought in. There will be a stricter regime for prisoners and mentoring for staff in order to instill a new disciplinary process.
The announcement followed reports that officers would be given pepper spray for the first time amid rising violence in English jails. But a former chief inspector of prisons described the plans as an “admission of failure”.
Nick Hardwick said the sprays could be “necessary and proportionate” but also led to governors having to explain themselves in court if abused.
During the Prison Governors Association conference yesterday, he said greater use of force should be resisted and the focus should instead be placed on “safety and rehabilitation”.
Mr Hardwick, who resigned from his role as chairman of the Parole Board over the John Worboys case in March, told delegates: “I heard today... that staff are now going to be given pepper PAVA sprays. What an admission of failure.
“I don’t dispute that things have got so bad that that may be necessary, but we should resist the argument that greater use of force is any kind of a penalty compared with enough experienced staff creating relationships.”