APPENDIX 4
Memorandum by the Board of Visitors of
HMP Blantyre House
THE IMPACT UPON THE RESETTLEMENT ETHOS OF
BLANTYRE HOUSE OF THE SEARCH CARRIED OUT ON 5/6 MAY 2000
1. The ethos has been damaged by the following:
(i) Continued unrest at not knowing the reasons
for the search on 5/6 May 2000 and the perceived misinformation
repeatedly given out by the Authorities.
(ii) Communication between the governors
and the prison could be better and we would like to see this improved.
(iii) Lack of confidence in the regime by
inmates has led to less co-operation in education and prison activities.
(iv) The adverse publicity has led to some
difficulty with community projects and some work placements.
(v) Driving lessons have been stopped. These
courses costing approximately £500 were not funded by the
prison service. In most cases the inmates had to raise £200
and then apply to the Blantyre House Voluntary Fund (a registered
charity) for the rest. A valid license on release ensures that
ex-prisoners are not driving illegally and have better employment
prospects.
2. Other related events.
(i) The Board members requested that they
were called back if there were any incident after their departure
at 12.30 am on 6 May. They were not recalled and consequently
there were no independent witnesses present when the damage was
done and the men shipped out.
(ii) The Board were very concerned at the
prospect of Blantyre House being re-roled. It was felt that the
results being achieved here merited the continuation and possible
expansion elsewhere. It has taken several years to reach this
standard and to build up confidence with employers and the local
community.
(iii) We have not been privy to the intelligence
on which the search was based and this has made our role extremely
difficult. However, as a Board we have tried to maintain our role
as an independent watchdog whilst at the same time giving support
to the new management but there appears to be no policy other
than tightening the rules and regulations to the standard of a
normal category "C" prison. We have watched the Blantyre
we respected being slowly eroded since the search in May. There
have now been four absconds and one escape in the last four months.
(iv) Any new governor taking over a prison
immediately after an incident of this nature faces an almost insurmountable
problem to restore morale and confidence within the establishment.
(v) The resignation of Number Two Governor
shortly after the events of the 5/6 May left the prison without
anyone of governor grade with the knowledge or experience of the
resettlement ethos of Blantyre House.
3. (i) What is desperately needed is
a forward thinking management that believes in resettlement together
with new guidelines for such prisons as suggested by Sir David
Ramsbotham in his preface to this year's inspection report on
Blantyre House.
(ii) If possible we would like a Board member
to attend the inquiry and listen to the proceedings.
D Cottle
Chairman
G Molly Tipples
Vice Chairman
October 2000
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