Worrying report into conditions at Northampton prison
HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough is a relatively new prison having opening in early 2022.
A new report into Wellingborough's HMP Five Wells has found many issues including a high staff turnover and high incidents of inmates able to get illegal drugs in the prison.
There have been three leaders in since it's been opened. 30% of prisoners were testing positive for drugs. The report found 50% of prisoners in our surveyed said it was easy to get drugs in the jail.
As well as this the report found management of safety, and work to reduce reoffending needed addressing.
Opened in 2022 it's a relatively new and modern prison with 1600 inmates.
We spoke to Charlie Taylor, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons.
"If that many prisoners are taking drugs all the time, obviously that is going to get in the way of any sort of rehabilitation.
But also they have a big problem with staffing as well. So I mean, they've recruited 750 officers since the place opened, but only 270 old of them have remained in post. So they've had a huge churn of staff. And of course, if you got very inexperienced officers, it makes it difficult to do things like notice where where there's drug dealing."
He did add that opening a new prison is a 'really hard thing to do' and told us the new governor is beginning to get a real grip on issues and that there are some improvements happening.
G4S run the HMP Five Wells site and a spokesperson told us:
“The report acknowledges the challenges faced when opening a new prison. We have put in place an action plan that addresses all HMIP's key priorities with a focus on recruitment, retention, addressing the ingress of drugs, governance and oversight.
“We are pleased the report highlights examples of good practice, including the support we provide to prisoners during their early days in custody and on family days. Inspectors said rates of violence and self-harm are falling and this downward trajectory has continued since the inspection.
“We are committed to developing a stronger and broader purposeful activity, skills and education programme to enhance employment opportunities for prisoners."