Fears cost-cutting will ‘seriously’ affect Ford prison

The annual report of the Independent Monitoring Board of HMP Ford said it was ‘very concerned’ that a reduction in staffing levels was likely to have a ‘serious effect’ on the efficient running of the prison.

It said the constant pressure staff were now under had led to increased levels of sickness, which in turn put extra pressure on those working at the prison.

On New Year’s Day in 2011 inmates rioted at the prison, causing £5m of damage.

Staffing levels were criticised at the time, with just six workers responsible for more than 500 inmates.

The report, which covers the year up to October, 2013, said: “The board fully recognises the need for cost cutting and accepts that this will have an effect on manpower. However, the board is very concerned that the level of reduction in staff is likely to have a serious effect on the efficient running of the prison. The constant pressure under which staff are now expected to work leads to increased levels of sickness which in turn places even more pressure on those who report for duty.

“Frequently, staff have to be taken off normal duty to cover for those who are not available.”

The report also said drugs were a problem at Ford and that some of the cells were not fit for purpose and would need refurbishing if they were not changed to single occupancy use.

The board said it ‘regretted’ that sniffer dogs were no longer used at the prison to detect drugs.

Prisoners absconding has also led to a change in policy at the prison.

Last year two murderers absconded from the prison in July and August.

As a result to changes in practices, since the date of the report, no new offenders are allowed to be transferred to open prisons unless the sending prison has completed an Offender Assessment report on them.

The monitoring report said this was meant to have been done previously but often was not in practice.

However, the report did point to several positives.

It said the prison had moved forwards in many areas, but said there was still ‘much room for improvement’.

“Every offender is engaged in some form of purposeful activity. This is a significant achievement and the management in this area should be congratulated,” the report added.