Walton Prison (240)
HMP LIVERPOOL is in “desperate need of capital investment”, according to a stinging report published yesterday.
The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) said Liverpool is “limping along” with dire facilities that are “not fit for purpose”.
Campaigners say the dilapidated state of the Walton prison means inmates are more likely to reoffend.
The IMB also highlighted that staff are fighting a “losing battle” against drugs, bullying and mobile phones in the jail.
It states: “The overall judgment . . . is that man-agement, officers and staff provide generally a very high standard of professionalism in dealing with prisoners, in sometimes difficult circumstances given the infrastructure of a ‘Victorian’ prison that is in des-perate need of capital investment.
“The Board has serious con-cerns with regard to bullying, drugs and mobile phones among inmates.”
The reports states ageing show-ers leak in cells and damp in the kitchen was rife. The state of some cells was so bad they were “condemned” as unfit for human habitation. But they were pushed back into service after only “temporary refurbishment”.
Imran Hussain, from the Prison Reform Trust, said: “What the IMB report shows is that there are things happening in Liverpool that make it unsurprising reoffending rates are so high.”
Mr Hussain said two-thirds of prisoners return to jail within 24 months of their release.
Prison governor Alan Brown admitted the prison was suffering from under-investment, adding: “A lack of investment over many years means much of the infra-structure is on its last legs.”
Mr Brown said he thought behaviour was good and that inmates enjoyed the facilities.
On the IMB’s criticism of the headway made tackling contra-band, he said drugs incidents were down by almost half.
He has overseen a £500,000 project to replace roadside win-dows designed to stop inmates hauling drugs inside.
Liverpool’s drugs problem was exposed by the chief inspector of prisons in her 2007 report.
Mr Brown said he hoped work would begin replacing both the kitchen and showers by the end of the year.
He said £8m had been spent recently on the showers in one wing and work would start in July on the remaining six wings. Work on a new kitchen is scheduled for September although funding from the Ministry of Justice has not yet been secured. The IMB said the kitchen should be replaced “as a matter of urgency”.
The IMB praised the prison’s healthcare facility and probation service.
