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Prison ratings: 'Serious concern' over three jails Prison ratings: 'Serious concern' over two private prisons
(35 minutes later)
Two privately-run prisons are among three the government has expressed "serious concern" over, Ministry of Justice ratings have revealed. Two privately-run prisons are among three the government has expressed "serious concern" over, Ministry of Justice (MoJ) ratings have revealed.
HMP Oakwood, run by G4S in the West Midlands, HMP Thameside, run by Serco in London, and the Prison Service's HMP Winchester in Hampshire, were given the lowest performance rating of one.HMP Oakwood, run by G4S in the West Midlands, HMP Thameside, run by Serco in London, and the Prison Service's HMP Winchester in Hampshire, were given the lowest performance rating of one.
Oakwood and Thameside are among 14 prisons run by private companies in England and Wales. Oakwood and Thameside are among 14 privately-run prisons in England and Wales. There are a total of 134.
There are a total of 134 prisons. The MoJ said action was being taken.
G4S and Serco are private security companies but have a range of contracts with the government to carry out services. Critics called on the government to "halt the privatisation of justice".
Earlier this month both firms came under fire for overcharging the government by "tens of millions of pounds" for providing electronic tags for criminals. The ratings come after private security companies G4S and Serco came under fire for overcharging the government by "tens of millions of pounds" for providing electronic tags for criminals.
It triggered a government-wide review of all contracts held by the two firms.It triggered a government-wide review of all contracts held by the two firms.
'Deteriorated sharply''Deteriorated sharply'
In the annual ratings, a further 12 prisons were "of concern", while the remainder were either rated as having an "exceptional performance" or "meeting the majority of targets". In the annual assessment a further 12 prisons were said to be "of concern", while the remainder were either rated as having an "exceptional performance" or "meeting the majority of targets".
Oakwood opened in April 2012 and is one of the largest jails in the country, with capacity for 1,600 male inmates. Separately, every probation trust in England and Wales was rated "good" or "exceptional" by the MoJ.
On its website, the prison says that it aspires to be regarded as "the leading prison in the world" within five years. Oakwood opened in April 2012 and is one of the largest jails in the country, with capacity for 1,600 male inmates. On its website, the prison says that it aspires to be regarded as "the leading prison in the world" within five years.
Thameside opened in March 2012 and can hold 900 male prisoners.Thameside opened in March 2012 and can hold 900 male prisoners.
Winchester Prison, built in 1846, was criticised by inspectors earlier this year after two elderly disabled men were locked up together for almost 24 hours a day, without easy access to showers.Winchester Prison, built in 1846, was criticised by inspectors earlier this year after two elderly disabled men were locked up together for almost 24 hours a day, without easy access to showers.
Inspectors said standards at the jail had "deteriorated sharply".Inspectors said standards at the jail had "deteriorated sharply".
Performance grading Prison reform campaigners said the ratings provided further evidence that Justice Secretary Chris Grayling needed to reconsider his promised "rehabilitation revolution", under which private security firms would be paid to supervise low to medium-level offenders across England and Wales.
'Fanatical obsession'
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "There could not be a more damning indictment of the government's fanatical obsession with justice privatisation than its own performance figures.
"Last autumn, the justice secretary hailed G4S Oakwood as an example of what the private sector could achieve in prisons. We agree. The prison, ranked joint-bottom in the country, is wasting millions and creating ever more victims of crime."
An MoJ spokesman said HMPs Thameside and Oakwood were "still in the early stages of their development".
"Experience demonstrates that it takes up to two years for a new prison to develop and embed good working practices that underpin the successful delivery of positive regimes for prisoners," he said.
The spokesman also insisted "decisive action" was being taken to address the concerns raised.
"We are confident that Thameside and Oakwood will deliver the improvements required of them and will become well-run prisons that reduce the risk of future reoffending for the people they hold," he said.
'Significant progress'
On Winchester, the spokesman said a performance improvement action plan was in place and "significant progress" had been made.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is responsible for agreeing and publishing annual performance ratings for each prison in England and Wales.The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is responsible for agreeing and publishing annual performance ratings for each prison in England and Wales.
NOMS looks at how prisons have done on public protection, reducing reoffending, decency and resource management and operational effectiveness.NOMS looks at how prisons have done on public protection, reducing reoffending, decency and resource management and operational effectiveness.
Performance is graded into four bands - four indicates exceptional performance; three means a majority of targets have been met; two indicates overall performance is of concern and one suggest performance is of serious concern.Performance is graded into four bands - four indicates exceptional performance; three means a majority of targets have been met; two indicates overall performance is of concern and one suggest performance is of serious concern.