Governor claims success stories at Liverpool jail

Jan 31 2008 by Aaron Boland, Liverpool Daily Post

AT A time when prison overcrowding is endemic, and prison officers are threatening industrial action at HMP Liverpool, Governor Alan Brown and staff are still claiming several success stories.

The first thing you notice as the heavy prison gates close behind you is more than 50 gleaming new windows in A-Wing. They were put in to stop a lucrative drug trade worth hundreds of thousands of pounds being conducted over the walls.

Drug dealers were throwing packages over the wall from gardens along Hornby Road, Walton, then the smuggled narcotics were pulled into prison through narrow gaps in the cell windows using fishing wire.

The prison has installed sealed units prisoners cannot penetrate. As A-Wing is the prison’s drug support zone, the management is claiming a significant victory.

Prison spokeswoman Helen Wright said: “Changes have come at great expense, but show major investment is being put in here.”

Mr Brown, who took over as governor 2½ years ago, claims much of this investment has come about because of cash savings. He said they needed to use public funds in the most efficient way. “About 80% of our budget is staffing but although there are cuts to be made, there will be no staff losses at all,” he said.

This vow comes weeks after the Prison Officers Association claimed 20 jobs would almost cert- ainly go. Mr Brown admits they will have to save £986,000 this year, and the prisoners’ working day, or core day, will be shortened.

The POA believe this means prisoners will be locked up for longer, leading to greater frust- ration and anger. Some shorter term prisoners may miss out on rehabilitation they say, and over- worked officers will be left to pick up the pieces. But Mr Brown does not accept there is significant unrest among officers.

“I haven’t heard any staff being angry about the new core day. In fact it will allow more family time for staff who will be able to get home in more sociable hours.”

Mr Brown says the team has reduced injuries by 43%, and assaults on prisoners by 66%.

While the Victorian buildings being back memories of Porridge, management are confident they are heading in the right direction.

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