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HMP Birmingham 'faces challenges' | HMP Birmingham 'faces challenges' |
(about 6 hours later) | |
HMP Birmingham, the first in the UK to be privatised, faces "significant strategic challenges", a report has found. | |
Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick said HMP Birmingham was "a cleaner, safer and more decent place" since it was privatised last October. | Chief Inspector of Prisons Nick Hardwick said HMP Birmingham was "a cleaner, safer and more decent place" since it was privatised last October. |
But he warned the prison, operated by G4S, needed to improve its training and drugs programmes. | But he warned the prison, operated by G4S, needed to improve its training and drugs programmes. |
G4S said it welcomed the report and was considering its recommendations. | G4S said it welcomed the report and was considering its recommendations. |
HMP Birmingham became the first prison to be taken over by a private company after previously being in the public sector in October 2011. | |
Mr Hardwick said: "Birmingham prison has recently made some relatively simple but nonetheless important improvements but the prison also has a number of significant strategic challenges it needs to resolve. | Mr Hardwick said: "Birmingham prison has recently made some relatively simple but nonetheless important improvements but the prison also has a number of significant strategic challenges it needs to resolve. |
"It is a cleaner, safer and more decent place. However, first night and vulnerable prisoner arrangements are significant exceptions to that overall picture." | "It is a cleaner, safer and more decent place. However, first night and vulnerable prisoner arrangements are significant exceptions to that overall picture." |
Inspectors said there was "insufficient support" for those wishing to reduce their dependency on drugs, while the single alcohol worker was "overwhelmed". | Inspectors said there was "insufficient support" for those wishing to reduce their dependency on drugs, while the single alcohol worker was "overwhelmed". |
'New regime' | 'New regime' |
The report said there had been 54 reported incidents of packages being thrown over the prison wall in the previous three months. | The report said there had been 54 reported incidents of packages being thrown over the prison wall in the previous three months. |
The regime for vulnerable prisoners was described as "unsatisfactory", with many of them facing harassment from other prisoners and with poor access to services. | The regime for vulnerable prisoners was described as "unsatisfactory", with many of them facing harassment from other prisoners and with poor access to services. |
Overcrowding remained a problem with too many prisoners spending too long in small, shared cells, Mr Hardwick said. | Overcrowding remained a problem with too many prisoners spending too long in small, shared cells, Mr Hardwick said. |
The report found not enough prisoners were learning new skills, or taking part in other activities, while training opportunities were often missed. | The report found not enough prisoners were learning new skills, or taking part in other activities, while training opportunities were often missed. |
Despite the outlined concerns, inspectors praised improvements in safety, cleanliness and relations between prisoners and guards. | Despite the outlined concerns, inspectors praised improvements in safety, cleanliness and relations between prisoners and guards. |
There was also praise for the treatment of older prisoners, who have access to a day care centre. | There was also praise for the treatment of older prisoners, who have access to a day care centre. |
In a statement the company said: "We have made a start at implementing a new regime aimed at improving the rehabilitation of offenders. | In a statement the company said: "We have made a start at implementing a new regime aimed at improving the rehabilitation of offenders. |
"We will look at the recommendations within the report carefully and will continue to further improve the work, training and education available for prisoners." | "We will look at the recommendations within the report carefully and will continue to further improve the work, training and education available for prisoners." |
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