Prison ‘struggling to meet demands’ (From News Shopper)

Prison ‘struggling to meet demands’

10:02am Tuesday 21st February 2006

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ONE of the country's highest profile prisons has been criticised in an independent report.

According to the report Belmarsh jail, in Western Way, Thamesmead, is "struggling to meet the demands" of its "diverse population".

The dossier, compiled by the prisons' Independent Monitoring Board, says the level of care given to mental health patients is "unacceptable".

It also criticises the "disgraceful" delay between deaths in custody and coroner's inquests.

Belmarsh is a Category A jail and home to 920 inmates, including high-profile figures such as Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs.

But in their summary the report authors are critical of its overall performance.

The report says: "Our view of the prison is one of an establishment in the spotlight struggling to provide an adequate mix of facilities to meet the complex demands of a diverse population."

It also claims the prison is risking security breaches by transferring prisoners to London courts.

The report recommends the Home Secretary Charles Clarke looks urgently at the lack of use of neighbouring Woolwich Crown Court.

It says: "It is simply a waste of resources for prisoners to be escorted back and forth to central London when accommodation is available next door.

"Travel outside the establishment significantly adds to the risk of security breaches."

The report takes into account the period between July 2004 and June last year, before current governor Claudia Sturt took over.

A Belmarsh spokesman says the court regularly uses video link-ups to minimise the number of court appearances.

On the staff morale issue, the spokesman added the prison "does not accept patient care is being compromised".

DAMNING DOSSIER

THE report makes a number of damning accusations. It says:

Staff morale in the prison's healthcare centre is so low it is "threatening to damage the service to prisoners".

Vulnerable inmates are being moved away from a specialist unit because of overcrowding.

There are "unacceptable" delays between deaths in custody and coroner's inquests.

Prisoners with mental health problems get "little or no appropriate treatment for their condition".

There are a "lack of contingency arrangements" in place when staff are absent or when posts remain unfilled.

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