Jail transfer probe clears bosses

Six prisoners were said to have been moved from Pentonville

Two former governors accused of moving vulnerable inmates out of their jails ahead of inspections have been cleared.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said charges against the bosses of London's Pentonville and Wandsworth prisons had been dismissed after an inquiry.

Three other staff members have received disciplinary penalties but nobody would be sacked, an MoJ spokesman confirmed.

After learning they were to be moved, some of the prisoners deliberately injured themselves.

'Disgraceful matter'

Justice Secretary Jack Straw ordered the inquiry into how widespread the practice was after Chief Inspector of Prisons Dame Anne Owers published two reports.

They said two prisoners who had been switched later harmed themselves and six were taken from the vulnerable inmate unit at Pentonville.

Mr Straw told the Commons the transfer of prisoners before inspections was a "disgraceful matter".

Sadly for the many staff and managers who had worked hard to improve the two prisons, their efforts will inevitably be overshadowed by these events Dame Anne Owers

He said: "The chief inspector's reports have highlighted practices in two prisons which are quite clearly reprehensible and neither justifiable nor excusable.

"Those involved neglected one of their primary duties - to treat prisoners with decency and respect."

Dame Anne had told the BBC: "The presence of those prisoners wouldn't have affected our inspectors assessment at all.

"Sadly for the many staff and managers who had worked hard to improve the two prisons, their efforts will inevitably be overshadowed by these events.

"This is deplorable, not only because of the effects on individuals, but because of the underlying mind-set that prisoners are merely pieces to be moved around the board to meet performance targets or burnish the reputation of the prison."

The two ex-governors were given fresh posts in the national offender management service before the accusations were made.

The deputy governor at Wandsworth was given advice and guidance, while another senior manager at the same prison received a final written warning and was barred from promotion for three years.

A junior manager at Pentonville was also given a final written warning, but barred from promotion for two years.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman confirmed the hearings against the five had been concluded and that no-one had been dismissed.

The Howard League for Penal Reform has questioned how many other jails may have moved "difficult" prisoners.

The Prison Governors Association said it was regrettable the story was eclipsing "enormous progress" made at the two sites.