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Ken Clarke sent warning about riot prison staffing Ken Clarke sent warning about riot prison staffing
(about 1 hour later)
Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke was warned about staffing concerns at an open prison a fortnight before inmates went on the rampage, it has emerged.Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke was warned about staffing concerns at an open prison a fortnight before inmates went on the rampage, it has emerged.
The local Independent Monitoring Board - a group of volunteers who carry out checks - also warned about alcohol being smuggled into Ford open prison.The local Independent Monitoring Board - a group of volunteers who carry out checks - also warned about alcohol being smuggled into Ford open prison.
Some 40 inmates rioted at the jail in West Sussex on New Year's Day after officers attempted to breathalyse them.Some 40 inmates rioted at the jail in West Sussex on New Year's Day after officers attempted to breathalyse them.
The Ministry of Justice said it would consider the report's findings.The Ministry of Justice said it would consider the report's findings.
At the start of the riot, which is estimated to have caused £3m worth of damage, two officers and four support staff on the night shift were in charge of almost 500 prisoners. At the start of the riot, which is estimated to have caused damage that will cost £3m to repair, two officers and four support staff on the night shift were in charge of almost 500 prisoners.
In a report from 16 December which has now been published, Ford's Independent Monitoring Board said it had concerns about "minimal" staffing, as well as junior staff - who were only trained to a low level - patrolling alone.In a report from 16 December which has now been published, Ford's Independent Monitoring Board said it had concerns about "minimal" staffing, as well as junior staff - who were only trained to a low level - patrolling alone.
'Sceptical' Illicit substances
"Whilst there have only been minor incidents in the last year, we do not consider that proper control is being exercised at night and are sceptical of the response received in the past that it must be adequate because there has not been a serious incident yet," it said. Charles Pinney, head of the monitoring board, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it did not see a riot coming, but did think staff were "too thinly stretched."
It went on to warn "drugs, alcohol, mobile telephones and other illicit substances" continued to find their way into the prison. He said the board had been told repeatedly that there had never been "a serious incident", but it had been "a bit sceptical about that".
The report echoes concerns about low staffing levels from the Prison Officers Association (POA). "You are never going to be able to completely fully staff it at night and it would be a waste of money to try to," he said, but added he believed some more staff were certainly needed.
Last week, the POA said only 43 prison staff are in charge of more than 3,000 inmates on a typical night shift at open jails. The board's report warned that "drugs, alcohol, mobile telephones and other illicit substances" continued to find their way into the prison, and Mr Pinney said a minor road passing across the site provided an easy route.
Joe Simpson, of the POA, said the numbers were "totally inadequate" and he was surprised recent unrest at an open prison had not happened sooner. "It's very easy for passers-by to leave stuff just outside the fence or throw it over the top," he said.
Mr Pinney said part of the problem at Ford was that the type of inmates there had changed in recent years and in the past had usually been those coming to the end of long sentences, who had spent time in much tougher prisons elsewhere.
"On the whole [those prisoners are] keener to keep their noses clean, to get through the rest of their sentence and to get the benefits of things like going out to work that they're able to do at Ford," he said.
"We're now getting more short-term prisoners. They come in [and] we can't really do a huge amount for them in that length of time.
"They're not feeling that they're lucky to be there and it could be much worse somewhere else."
'Totally inadequate'
The report echoes concerns about low staffing levels from the Prison Officers Association.
Last week it said only 43 prison staff were in charge of more than 3,000 inmates on a typical night shift at open jails.
Joe Simpson, of the POA, said such numbers were "totally inadequate" and he was surprised unrest at an open prison had not happened sooner.
Earlier this week Mr Clarke told the Commons that lessons must be learned about what happened at Ford.Earlier this week Mr Clarke told the Commons that lessons must be learned about what happened at Ford.
The National Offender Management Service is carrying out an investigation.The National Offender Management Service is carrying out an investigation.