Inspectors give Ford Prison a glowing review

Now, following months of hard work to build bridges between staff and prisoners, the category D institution has been praised by a watchdog for its excellent management and community ethos.

A report by chief inspector of prisons Nick Hardwick has highlighted Ford’s “outstanding” effort to improve prison care, security and the opportunities available to inmates.

Mr Hardwick said: “Managers and staff at Ford are to be congratulated on turning round the prison after deep-seated concerns were exposed by a serious disturbance.

“This is still work in progress but HMP Ford now compares well with other open prisons. Overall, it provides a safe and decent environment, where prisoners are kept busy with good-quality activity.

“Work to help prisoners resettle successfully after they are released and reduce the risk that they will reoffend has also improved, but these remain the areas where most still requires to be done.”

Previous assessments noted that while Ford was not without its strengths, it was clear that the trust on which the smooth running of the prison depended was in short supply and the prison at that time was failing to deliver its fundamental resettlement role effectively.

However, results of the latest unannounced inspection, in August, showed 72 per cent of inmates surveyed felt staff treated them with respect, compared to just 49 per cent in a review months before the 2011 New Year’s Day riot.

‘Tightened security’

The survey also revealed that 76 per cent of prisoners felt more secure talking about their problems with staff, against 56 per cent in 2010.

Inspectors also noted that the level of absconds had fallen, as had the number of drug and alcohol-related offences at Ford.

The number of prisoners allowed to boost their future employment prospects by being allowed to work outside the prison had risen significantly from 10 at the time of the last inspection to 120.

Inspectors added that health and faith care remained good within Ford.

However, they said improvements could still be made, particularly when assessing new inmates.

Michael Spurr, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), said: “I would echo the chief inspector’s comments about the changes made at Ford in creating a safe, decent and purposeful regime. Improvements have been made by tightening security procedures, tackling drug and alcohol use and reducing the number of absconds.

“Open prisons provide a key role in the system by ensuring that long-sentenced prisoners are tested in the community before they are released to reduce their risk of reoffending.”