Nottinghamshire's Lowdham Grange prison still unsafe and poorly run
A watchdog has released its latest report
A damning report says no improvements have been made at a Nottinghamshire prison where six inmates have died in the last year.
The government will take over the running of troubled HMP Lowdham Grande later this year after concerns over deteriorating safety, prisoner conditions and staffing levels.
Prison watchdog the Independent Monitoring Board says that the prison remains unsafe and violent, with rising levels of self-harm.
A report published today (July 12) says there were no meaningful improvements between February 2023 and January 2024 – the first 12 months when it was run by private company Sodexo.
Five prisoners are understood to have taken their lives at the prison during this time, and another died of natural causes – meaning a total of 14 prisoners have died in the last five years.
The Prison Service intervened at the Category B prison in December 2023, installing a new governor to improve safety.
The prison, located close to Lowdham village, holds men who have been sentenced to more than four years.
Its capacity has been reduced from around 900 to 823 earlier this year in an attempt to deal with its issues.
Staff shortages, long lockdowns and widespread use of illegal drugs are making the facility more unsafe, the report says.
It found that safety has deteriorated, with 63 prisoners and 39 staff seriously assaulted in the last year.
A total of 844 acts of self-harm were recorded that year, with rates almost doubling towards the end of the period covered by the report.
“Not enough is being done to support prisoners in crisis and at risk of self-harm,” according to the report.
Healthcare and education staff no longer go onto the wings due to fears for their own safety.
Inspectors were concerned for the mental and emotional wellbeing of prisoners due to long periods isolated in their cells, sometimes due to lack of staff.
The transfer from current operator Sodexo is expected to be completed during the summer.
Half of all drug tests on prisoners come back positive due to widespread availability, with the associated gang culture making prisoners feel less safe.
A lockdown search in January led to record numbers of weapons being discovered.
The report says there is little accountability or oversight of prisoner officers.
It notes a social media video of staff assaulting and behaving abusively to a prisoner which led to four employees being suspended.
The report describes a lack of “meaningful education programme”, although watchdog Ofsted says there has been some progress.
Sodexo said in a statement: “HMP Lowdham Grange is a prison facing a unique set of challenges. We have worked tirelessly and very closely with HM Prison and Probation Service since February 2023 to seek to improve stability and deliver the significant improvements expected.
“At this time, we are focused on working alongside the Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service to ensure a safe, secure and seamless transfer for everyone who lives and works at the prison.”
Three deaths which occurred at the prison in March 2023 are all subject to inquests due to be held at Nottingham Coroner’s Court in September.