Officers 'falsified jail records'

Records on conditions at Feltham lacked detail, said its former governor

Officers at a jail where a racist psycopath killed his Asian cellmate fabricated records, an inquiry heard.

Former governor Niall Clifford told the inquiry into Zahid Mubarek's March 2000 murder that officers falsified records contributing to performance targets.

Inspectors labelled Feltham Young Offenders' Institution "rotten to the core" before Robert Stewart attacked his 19-year-old cellmate.

Mr Clifford, headhunted to turn the prison around, left within 13 months.

Appearing before the public inquiry into the death, Mr Clifford said prison officers falsified records on "regime" conditions - documents which monitor what life is like inside.

Although he had not caught anyone fabricating records, the lack of details and formulaic notes had convinced the former governor that officers were copying older documents or making things up.

I think it was just laziness Former governor Niall Clifford

"I think it is a system which has grown outside of its ability to cope with the information required of it across the Prison Service probably," said Mr Clifford.

Officers' 'laziness'

Mr Justice Keith, chairman of the inquiry, asked Mr Clifford if the records had been fabricated so that officers could conceal that inmates were living in poor conditions.

"I think it was worse than that," said Mr Clifford. "I think it was just laziness."

"I am not convinced that laziness is worse than an attempt to deliberately conceal," said Mr Justice Keith.

"I am not trying to suggest it is, but I would say that is the most likely explanation," replied Mr Clifford.

Robert Stewart is serving a life sentence for the killing

Asked if he could rely on officers' records to help write his performance reports, Mr Clifford said he was "more inclined" to trust what he was told in person at morning briefing sessions.

However, he stressed he did not believe officers had fabricated cell search records. One of the key issues in the inquiry is how Robert Stewart succeeded in making a weapon out of the table in the cell he was sharing with Zahid.

Staff relations

Throughout his evidence, Mr Clifford said relations with prison officers were poor and the Prison Officers' Association had been "determined to avoid change" on his arrival.

NIALL CLIFFORD AT FELTHAM April 1999: Appointed governor June 1999: Parliament discussed jail November 1999: Sought promotion March 2000: Zahid Mubarek murdered May 2000: Left prison, following promotion

Mr Clifford told the inquiry he had tried to boost the spirits of officers on taking over in April 1999, but had been greeted with a silent response.

He however insisted he had laid the foundations for reform, even though he left the institution within 13 months, rather than three years as expected.

Nicholas Pascoe, who became governor in October 2000, said some key issues had "not been gripped" by his predecessor.

"I remember going to see a member of staff who was on sick for two years at full pay," said Mr Pascoe.

"I know the procedures are slow in the Prison Service but he actually had been on full pay by the time he had been dismissed for three years. That was the most glaring example about the issues that had not been gripped."

Mr Pascoe said Feltham's accountant could not tell him if the prison was in debt or in the black. Furthermore, the jail had no proper contract for bringing in psychiatric nurses and doctors - arrangements were "on the back of a fag packet".

Robert Stewart, who had a history of violence in the prison system, was diagnosed as a psychopath after the murder and officers did not appear aware of his past.