Prisoners are treated fairly at G4S-managed HM Prison Altcourse and the prison continues to work towards ensuring that safety, decency, and dignity are embedded throughout, according to the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) annual report.
Violence down at HM Prison Altcourse; Men feel safer than at other jails, says IMB
Prisoners are treated fairly at G4S-managed HM Prison Altcourse and the prison continues to work towards ensuring that safety, decency, and dignity are embedded throughout, according to the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) annual report, published today.
Levels of violence and self-harm declined during the reporting period (July 2017 to April 2018). The greater use of prison mentors, a new unit for prisoners who have been involved in violent or anti-social behaviour and the prison’s safer custody team all contributed to prisoners feeling safer and reductions in violence and self-harm.
The Board commented on the Care and Separation unit, saying that staff work with some very challenging prisoners and that during the year, they were required to manage an extremely disruptive prisoner, doing so with compassion and resilience.
We are keen to build on this success while addressing other areas for improvement, such as reducing verbal abuse between prisoners. This will not be tolerated in our prison, and anybody found doing so can expect to have privileges removed. We are also continuing to improve our ability to accommodate and provide for vulnerable prisoners to meet the increased number being sent to prisons.
There is a “good range” of educational and vocational training courses and work opportunities available, which continue to attract prisoners and are “regarded very positively” by the men, the IMB said.
Director at HM Prison Altcourse, Steve Williams, said: “Today’s report highlights the great work that is put in by the staff at Altcourse.”
“We are proud of the many initiatives, programmes and workshops in place to promote successful rehabilitation, and we were pleased to report a daily attendance rate of over 80 percent this year. These initiatives and activities help to maintain the safety of our establishment for everyone.”
Mr Williams said: “We are keen to build on this success while addressing other areas for improvement, such as reducing verbal abuse between prisoners. This will not be tolerated in our prison, and anybody found doing so can expect to have privileges removed. We are also continuing to improve our ability to accommodate and provide for vulnerable prisoners to meet the increased number being sent to prisons.”
The Board now receives statistics regarding healthcare complaints which have “reduced dramatically” and the prison has addressed concerns about long waiting periods for GP consultations and the conditions within the VP waiting area in the healthcare unit.
Director at HM Prison Altcourse, Steve Williams, said: “Today’s report highlights the great work that is put in by the staff at Altcourse.”
“We are proud of the many initiatives, programmes and workshops in place to promote successful rehabilitation, and we were pleased to report a daily attendance rate of over 80 percent this year. These initiatives and activities help to maintain the safety of our establishment for everyone.”
Mr Williams said: “We are keen to build on this success while addressing other areas for improvement, such as reducing verbal abuse between prisoners. This will not be tolerated in our prison, and anybody found doing so can expect to have privileges removed. We are also continuing to improve our ability to accommodate and provide for vulnerable prisoners to meet the increased number being sent to prisons.”
The Board now receives statistics regarding healthcare complaints which have “reduced dramatically” and the prison has addressed concerns about long waiting periods for GP consultations and the conditions within the VP waiting area in the healthcare unit.