'Deterioration' at women's prison

Conditions at a women's prison in Surrey, where two inmates died in custody, have got "significantly" worse, according to a new report.

Inspectors said HMP Send had "weak" anti-bullying arrangements, no programme to help reduce violence, and safety levels had deteriorated.

They also noted staff shortages and an "excessive turnover" in governors.

The National Offender Management Service said there had been progress in recruitment and cutting violence.

Chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers, said the prison, which is near Woking, had gone through "a very unsettled period, with an expansion of its population and an increase in short-term prisoners, but without sufficient investment in the regime".

'Badly needed stability'

She said there had been an inability to recruit and retain staff, an influx of inexperienced staff and difficulty in maintaining an appropriate gender balance.

"On top of this, there had been an excessive turnover of governors - three in less than two years - and further uncertainty created by a new clustering arrangement with a women's prison in Sutton.

"The outcome had been slippage in some important areas since our previous inspection, including a worrying deterioration in aspects of safety.

"Send requires regional and national support to achieve a period of badly needed stability, so that it can focus on addressing the increased challenges that it faces," she said.

'Sharp warning'

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust said the report showed a prison "which is less safe and less effective than it was three years ago", with staffing issues coinciding with an increase in self harm and two deaths in custody.

"This report should serve as a sharp warning to government to press ahead with its planned community centres for vulnerable women and to divert those with addictions, mental health needs, and learning disabilities into health or social care."

Phil Wheatley, director general of the National Offender Management Service, said: "There is no doubt that the chief inspector has accurately described the main difficulties facing Send at the time of the inspection.

"The governor and staff at Send are committed to drive forward change at the prison. I am pleased that there has already been progress in recruitment, in violence reduction and in staff searching."