A SHOCKING record of drug-taking, violence and self-harm caused by chronic staff shortages are continuing at a prison in Buckinghamshire — despite condemnation by prisons inspectors two years ago.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons said HMP Woodhills at Milton Keynes contains “some of the most dangerous offenders in the prison estate,” who are locked in their cells 21 hours a day.
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor said: “The frustration caused by the poor conditions in the prison contributed to rising violence, drug use and self-harm and inspectors found that the jail was fundamentally unsafe for both prisoners and staff.
“It was especially troubling to find that none of the recommendations from our 2021 inspection had been achieved; indeed many of the poor outcomes we had previously identified had, in fact, worsened.”
Mr Taylor has invoked a so-called urgent notification calling for action by Justice Secretary Alex Chalk.
Andrea Coomber, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “When people are sent to prison for serious offences, it is imperative that they are given the support they need in an environment that will help them to turn their lives around and move on from crime.
“This does not happen in Woodhill. Staff shortages are chronic, and they have led to a surge in drugs, violence and self-harm.
"Locking men up for 20-plus hours a day in such a prison and expecting them to somehow be less dangerous upon release makes us all less safe.
“Why is the government pressing ahead with plans to build more prisons when it can't safely run the jails it already has?”
A Prisons Service spokesperson said: “We have taken urgent action since this inspection to improve safety, security and living conditions at HMP Woodhill including bringing in specialist staff to support prisoners at risk of self-harm.
“The population of the prison has been temporarily reduced so safety and time out of cell can be addressed using existing resources, while longer-term improvements to education, employment classes and conditions will help offenders get the skills they need to turn their backs on crime.”
