Yorkshire city’s high-security prison found to be ‘fair and humane’

AN INDEPENDENT body has given its verdict on how prisoners are treated inside Wakefield’s high security prison.

HMP Wakefield – nicknamed Monster Mansion – is home to about 750 Category A prisoners, including some of the country’s most notorious inmates.

In its annual report for 2016/17, the Independent Monitoring Board found the facility was fair and humane but needed to do more to support its ageing prison population.

Since many of the prisoners are long-term serious offenders, the focus is not on preparing for release but on areas such as acknowledgement of offences and addressing future risks to allow moves to lower category facilities.

Speaking ahead of today’s publication of the full report, chairman David Smethurst said a large proportion of the prisoners held there were serious sex offenders.

“The prison has a challenging task, reflecting the nature of the prisoners’ offences, many of which are denied by the offenders, as well as the aged Victorian fabric of much the prison, and inevitably limited resources.

“However, our report concludes that greater, more specific care is needed for the constantly increasing numbers of elderly prisoners within its ageing population, equivalent to care which would be received outside.”

The board said it was also concerned that efforts to provide meaningful and purposeful work for working-age prisoners were frequently frustrated by problems of achieving adequate numbers of training staff, and volumes of contracted work.

Mr Smethurst added: “We commend the efforts of staff in their prisoner-centred ethos and their success in working towards greater rehabilitation.”