HMP Forest Bank - many strengths but education and training needed to improve

HMP Forest Bank was a safe and decent prison but needed more work, education and training for prisoners, said Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, publishing the report of an unannounced inspection of the Manchester local jail.

Forest Bank holds up to 1,364 adult and young adult male prisoners and operates in a challenging inner city environment. It is privately run under a 25-year private finance initiative contract by Sodexo Justice Services. When inspectors last visited in 2010, they found a good local prison where improvement was evident. This broadly remains the case, although there was some deterioration in the quality of activity and learning and skills provided.

Inspectors were pleased to find that:

• a number of safety concerns had been addressed and, although the number of violent incidents was still significant, there were indications that the prison’s approach was leading to improvement;
• the prison had reasonably good arrangements to support and help those in self-harm crisis;
• security was applied in a way proportionate to risk and facilitated the running of the prisons and use of force was low;
• the prison’s approach to confronting the supply of drugs was effective and there were some very impressive interventions to support opiate-dependent prisoners;
• staff-prisoner relationships were respectful, the environment was modern, clean and bright and access to amenities was good; and
• work in support of resettlement remained a strength, with a good assessment of need and good links with local services. A key advantage for the prison was that most prisoners came from within an 18-mile radius.

However, inspectors had some concerns:

• over 40% of prisoners were locked up doing nothing during the working part of the day;
• the provision of learning and skills was drifting, and there was no needs analysis or data to support improvements in quality;
• the number of prisoners segregated was relatively high, and oversight and governance of the segregation unit needed to improve; and
• the promotion of diversity was limited and inspectors identified differing and negative perceptions from various minority groups.

‘Overall this is a good report. The prison works in a difficult context but manages the risks it faces reasonably well. Strengths such as the quality of the environment and local connections are maximised, and the prison remained safe and respectful. However, we would encourage renewed effort to improve the quality of the regime so that more prisoners will be required to use their time purposefully.’

‘I am pleased that the Chief Inspector recognises that Forest Bank remains a well run prison. The Director and staff will use the report to further improve learning, skills and training so that prisoners are in the best position to find work on release.’

1. View a copy of the report. (424 kB)
2. HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment, and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
3. This unannounced inspection was carried out from 9-19 October 2012.
4. HMP Forest Bank is a category B local prison for adult and young adult men.
5. Please contact Jane Parsons in HMI Prisons Press Office on 0207 035 2123 or 07880 787452 if you would like more information or to request an interview with Nick Hardwick.