Dorset prison deteriorates 'further', inspectors find
The HM Inspectorate of Prisons has found 15 areas of key concerns at HMP Guys Marsh
A new report says a Dorset prison has deteriorated further since concerns were raised three years ago.
The HM Inspectorate of Prisons has found 15 areas of key concerns at HMP Guys Marsh.
Inspectors found that around of third of prisoners at the men's prison told inspectors they felt unsafe - while sixty-three per cent said illicit drugs were easy to get hold of.
The inspectorate wants the prison to do more to stop violence - and to make sure all prisoners are treated fairly.
In the report, they also added that the already-inadequate conditions were added to, with the fractured relationships between staff and prisoners creating a negative culture.
Rates of violence were high and rising, and the widespread availability of illicit drugs presenting an ongoing threat to stability and safety.
They also discovered that the use of force was among the highest in similar jails, with some staff too quick to resort to it. Chronic underinvestment had resulted in power outages, water entry into cells, and black mould on ceilings and walls.
Whilst 63% of prisoners in their survey said that it was easy to get illicit drugs, with more than half adding it was easy to get illicitly brewed alcohol.
In the last 12 months, there had been 127 finds of illicit drugs and around 220 finds of illicitly brewed alcohol equating to more than 1,600 litres.
However, they did note how the governor was focused on improving standards, but issues with staff absence, retention and inexperience meant progress had been too slow.
And despite Guys Marsh’s role as a training prison, around three in 10 prisoners were locked in their cells during the working day.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "This Government inherited a prison system in crisis – overcrowded, with drugs and violence rife – and we fully acknowledge the challenges at HMP Guys Marsh.
"This Government inherited a prison system in crisis – overcrowded, with drugs and violence rife – and we fully acknowledge the challenges at HMP Guys Marsh.
“Staff at the prison have already taken action against these recommendations by re-introducing prisoner forums to constructively raise concerns, increasing time out of cell and improving the educational offer, including through more places on English and Maths classes.”
You can read the full report on HMP Guys Marsh here.