Premier Services and "the worst prison" in England and Wales
01 January 2003
Martin Narey, Director General of Prison Services, has described Ashfield jail, run by Premier Prison Services, as "the worst prison in England and Wales." A recent report by Anne Owers, Chief Inspector of Prisons, noted that escort van drivers and orderlies were being used as officers on some wings. Narey's condemnation came as the government's Youth Justice Board said conditions were so bad it was pulling out of the jail.
In her inspection report, Ms Owers points out that conditions at the jail are so bad that half the jail's 261 staff have left in the last year. She criticises Premier Services for not providing a safe environment for inmates. In one week, 168 bullying incidents were reported at the jail, and staff admitted that the prison has no anti-bullying strategy in place. The only inmates not locked in their cells were full time cleaners and orderlies. Ms Owers made clear that "purposeful activity" at Ashfield fell far short of the standard required.
Disturbingly, officers were found to be carrying out strip searches of young offenders without a chaperone present. Juliet Lyons, for the Prison Reform Trust, questioned why "it was ever considered acceptable to place our most vulnerable and challenging children in the care of a company (Premier) with such a dismal international track record of work with young offenders."
Prison Reform Trust 5.2.03; Times 5.2.03; Miscarriages of Justice UK 5.2.03