A young offenders' institution has been labelled a "monster" from which some staff should be transferred because of their attitude towards inmates.

The BBC's Home Affairs Correspondent Tony Roe discusses Glen Parva on BBC News 24 (2'34")

The report, by the Chief Inspector of Prisons, comes one year after he walked out of an inspection at Glen Parva because conditions were so bad.

It was only the second time that the Chief Inspector had left a jail refusing to make a report.

After a subsequent inspection, Sir David Ramsbotham said there was "hope for the future" for the Leicestershire institution but added that a lot of work still needed to be done.

Sir David said Glen Parva was "a monster" and that some staff should be moved because of their attitude towards the 850 inmates.

The education programme appears to have been saved

He was also horrified at the prospect of budget cuts which would halve Glen Parva's education programme and lead to inmates being locked up for longer.

When Sir David walked out of his original inpsection he gave the Prisons Service six months to begin improving conditions.

On his return inpsection in December a new governor, Bryan Payling, had been brought in and staff morale had improved.

New governor Bryan Payling is making changes

Mr Payling said: "It is my responsibility to ensure that the ability and potential of the staff here is exploited to the full, to make sure they're doing the best they can in difficult circumstances."

In repsonse to Sir David's budget reduction criticisms the Prisons Service has announced an extra £750,000 for Glen Parva - in effect cancelling out the spending cuts.

Mr Payling has warned that he needs time to turn the prison around but Sir David says he will return for a progress report in 12 months instead of the usual two years.
 

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