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| Nottingham Prison not safe enough, says government report | Nottingham Prison not safe enough, says government report |
| (2 months later) | |
| Nottingham Prison is not safe enough and conditions are poor, a government report has revealed. | Nottingham Prison is not safe enough and conditions are poor, a government report has revealed. |
| The chief inspector of prisons published the findings after an unannounced inspection in September. | The chief inspector of prisons published the findings after an unannounced inspection in September. |
| High levels of violence, including assaults on staff and inmates, barricade incidents and a hostage-taking, were among the concerns. | High levels of violence, including assaults on staff and inmates, barricade incidents and a hostage-taking, were among the concerns. |
| The National Offender Management Service said a new governor was in post and "rapid improvement" was expected. | The National Offender Management Service said a new governor was in post and "rapid improvement" was expected. |
| Inspectors are due to return soon to assess the prison's progress. | Inspectors are due to return soon to assess the prison's progress. |
| HMP Nottingham, which dates back to the 19th Century and holds about 1,000 prisoners, had received a positive report from inspectors in 2010. | HMP Nottingham, which dates back to the 19th Century and holds about 1,000 prisoners, had received a positive report from inspectors in 2010. |
| However, the more recent inspection raised significant concerns. | However, the more recent inspection raised significant concerns. |
| Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons, said HMP Nottingham was "failing in most of its core responsibilities". | Nick Hardwick, the chief inspector of prisons, said HMP Nottingham was "failing in most of its core responsibilities". |
| He said: "The prison was not safe enough, conditions were not good enough." | He said: "The prison was not safe enough, conditions were not good enough." |
| Michael Spurr, chief executive officer of the National Offender Management Service, said the inspection took place during a difficult time but things have since improved. | Michael Spurr, chief executive officer of the National Offender Management Service, said the inspection took place during a difficult time but things have since improved. |
| He said: "A permanent governor has now been appointed and staffing numbers have increased and I'm confident that the action we have taken will deliver the rapid improvement that Nottingham requires." | He said: "A permanent governor has now been appointed and staffing numbers have increased and I'm confident that the action we have taken will deliver the rapid improvement that Nottingham requires." |
| Andrew Neilson, Howard League for Penal Reform campaign director, said: "Staff are being overwhelmed by the amount of work… and the pressure on them because of cutbacks." | Andrew Neilson, Howard League for Penal Reform campaign director, said: "Staff are being overwhelmed by the amount of work… and the pressure on them because of cutbacks." |
| Prison Reform Trust spokesman Mark Day said the report was "very worrying", adding: "Prisoners are simply locked in their cells for 23 hours a day with nothing to do." | Prison Reform Trust spokesman Mark Day said the report was "very worrying", adding: "Prisoners are simply locked in their cells for 23 hours a day with nothing to do." |
| The report comes less than a year after the Prison Officers' Association claimed officers at the prison were "getting assaulted on a regular basis" because of budget cuts, overcrowding and a lack of staff. | The report comes less than a year after the Prison Officers' Association claimed officers at the prison were "getting assaulted on a regular basis" because of budget cuts, overcrowding and a lack of staff. |
| In July, an inmate was taken to hospital after reportedly trying to blind himself and about a week later a prison officer's ear was bitten off in an attack at the jail. | In July, an inmate was taken to hospital after reportedly trying to blind himself and about a week later a prison officer's ear was bitten off in an attack at the jail. |