Prison 'failing' vulnerable women

The use of force at the prison has increased, the report found

A women's prison has failed to meet challenges from a "complex and growing" number of vulnerable inmates, a report by HM inspector of prisons says.

Staff at HMP Styal, in Cheshire, lack training and support to deal with the most "damaged" women, said Anne Owers.

Campaigners called on the government to take "urgent action" to address the problems at the prison, near Wilmslow.

But the National Offender Management Service said "innovative" work at the prison had also been recognised.

The announced inspection was carried out in September at the prison, which has 460 inmates - half of whom have issues with drugs.

The report said that prisoners' level of vulnerability compared with other women's jails was "extremely high".

There were inadequacies in the management of vulnerable women... including those at risk of suicide Anne Owers

It concluded that HMP Styal "was not able to meet the scale and complexity of the needs of the women it held".

On the Keller unit, for women with mental health issues, inspectors found the use of force by prison staff had "increased significantly".

These inmates, some of whom had serious self-harming issues, were often forced to strip as part of the prison's care plan.

The Keller prisoners were also locked up for most of the time.

Ms Owers said: "There were inadequacies in the management of vulnerable women elsewhere in the prison, including those at risk of suicide or self-harm, and those at risk of being bullied."

'Challenging population'

During an inspection five years ago the prison was heavily criticised for its care of vulnerable inmates, particularly those with mental health problems.

It was also criticised for its suicide rate.

Campaigners from Inquest, a charity which works with families of those who die in custody, have repeatedly protested outside the prison over the same issues.

Co-director Deborah Coles said: "As the report demonstrates, the response of the Prison Service does not reflect the seriousness of the failings that have been exposed both by inspection reports and inquests into the deaths of vulnerable women.

"What is needed is a fundamental rethink, not only about Styal but in the whole approach to women who offend, and the provision of alternatives to custody.

"The government must take urgent action - unless they do so, another preventable death is inevitable."

Improvements in offering external expertise for inmates withdrawing from drugs and alcohol were commended by the report, as was a mother and baby unit.

The chief inspector concluded: "This was not enough to meet the complex and sometimes acute needs of some of the women in their care."

However, inspectors said relationships between staff and prisoners had improved and that inmates spent more time out of their cells than had been the case.

Michael Spurr, chief operating officer for the National Offender Management Service, said: "The chief inspector rightly recognises the commendable and innovative work going on at Styal to manage an extremely challenging and vulnerable population."