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London prisoners blamed for rise in violence at HMP Onley | London prisoners blamed for rise in violence at HMP Onley |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Prisoners moved from London to a jail on the Warwickshire border have been blamed for a "sharp rise" in violence. | Prisoners moved from London to a jail on the Warwickshire border have been blamed for a "sharp rise" in violence. |
HM Inspectorate of Prisons found standards have declined at HMP Onley and declared it unsafe. | HM Inspectorate of Prisons found standards have declined at HMP Onley and declared it unsafe. |
The watchdog found conditions worse than in 2012, with staff blaming relocated London prisoners and gang issues for a near-tripling of assaults. | The watchdog found conditions worse than in 2012, with staff blaming relocated London prisoners and gang issues for a near-tripling of assaults. |
The National Offender Management Service said tackling the decline in safety was the governor's top priority. | The National Offender Management Service said tackling the decline in safety was the governor's top priority. |
More updates on this story and others in Coventry and Warwickshire | More updates on this story and others in Coventry and Warwickshire |
The category C prison, near Rugby on the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire border, held about 740 prisoners at the time of its inspection, from 25 July to 5 August. | The category C prison, near Rugby on the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire border, held about 740 prisoners at the time of its inspection, from 25 July to 5 August. |
Since its previous inspection in 2012 it has been designated as a resettlement prison for Greater London. | Since its previous inspection in 2012 it has been designated as a resettlement prison for Greater London. |
Inspectors found there had been a "dramatic decline" in standards in that time. | Inspectors found there had been a "dramatic decline" in standards in that time. |
"Staff gave various explanations, including the change of prisoner population and gang-related issues that they brought with them, the impact of new psychoactive substances [previously known as "legal highs"], and the impact of reductions in staff numbers," the report said. | "Staff gave various explanations, including the change of prisoner population and gang-related issues that they brought with them, the impact of new psychoactive substances [previously known as "legal highs"], and the impact of reductions in staff numbers," the report said. |
But despite the rise in violence, "not enough had been done to analyse the root causes". | But despite the rise in violence, "not enough had been done to analyse the root causes". |
Peter Clarke, chief inspector of prisons, acknowledged good work being done at the prison but called for the leadership to "get a grip" and "halt the decline". | Peter Clarke, chief inspector of prisons, acknowledged good work being done at the prison but called for the leadership to "get a grip" and "halt the decline". |
Staff shortages "did not offer an excuse for a decline in standards of the severity that we found", he added. | Staff shortages "did not offer an excuse for a decline in standards of the severity that we found", he added. |
Michael Spurr, CEO of the National Offender Management Service, welcomed the inspectors' recognition of work being done at the prison. | |
Additional staff were being recruited to drive forward improvements required, he said. | Additional staff were being recruited to drive forward improvements required, he said. |
Inspectors' findings: | Inspectors' findings: |
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