Ford prison riots – inspector’s damning report

ALL the ingredients for the riot which caused millions of pounds of damage at Ford Prison were in place a month before the unprecedented disturbances on New Year’s Day, a damning inspection report has revealed.

Easy availability of drink and drugs, claimed to be a major factor in January’s riot, and concerns over security at the open prison, are raised by Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Ford, he adds, was failing in its resettlement role, and its security was undermined by poor staff-prisoner relationships,

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Publishing the report of an announced inspection at Ford last December, Mr Hardwick states: “This inspection report does not explain – and certainly does not excuse – the disturbance. It does, however, describe conditions in the prison one month before the disturbance took place.”

It was clear during the inspection, the report says, that the trust on which the smooth running of the prison depended was in short supply, and Ford was failing to deliver its fundamental resettlement role effectively.

The prison was not without its strengths, being safe for most prisoners, and the care for vulnerable prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm was good; the prison’s committed and adaptable security staff had made positive efforts to improve security, with better camera surveillance facilities and joint working with police and there were fewer absconds, though the number remained high.

Good health care and improvements in work, training and education are also praised, together with the low use of force.

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Inspectors, however, had serious concerns, particularly over drugs – more than 40 per cent of prisoners said it was easy to obtain illegal drugs and staffing shortages meant many random drug tests could not be conducted within the necessary timescales.

Alcohol breath testing was “unsophisticated”, and alcohol finds were common, but not as prominent as at previous inspections.

Reports at the time of the riot suggested it had been triggered by a dispute over a prisoner being breath-tested for alcohol.

Mr Hardwick added: “Open prisons have a crucial role in preparing low-risk, particularly long-term prisoners for life back in the community.

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“They do this by testing prisoners in low-security conditions and gradually reintroducing them into society. Most open prisons perform this role effectively.

“Unfortunately, this was not the case at Ford. Instead, poor relationships were undermining the development of a strong, positive culture, essential to responsible living and dynamic security.”

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